California Nears Launch of Commercial Robotaxi Services for Waymo and Cruise
Waymo and Cruise receive crucial permits from the California DMV, bringing fully commercial autonomous ride-hailing services to the state's streets.
Waymo and General Motors' Cruise receive major permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to operate commercial robotaxis. These approvals allow the companies to charge passengers for rides in autonomous vehicles, requiring only final clearance from the California Public Utilities Commission to officially launch.
The new permits come with distinct operational limits for each company. Cruise operates driverless vehicles in designated parts of San Francisco between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. at speeds up to 30 mph, while Waymo runs its fleet with human safety supervisors in parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties at speeds up to 65 mph.
Cruise achieves a notable milestone by becoming the first autonomous ride-hail company to secure a driverless deployment permit in California. The company emphasizes its mission to provide safer and more affordable transportation using its fleet of all-electric, shared vehicles.