California Regulators Approve 24/7 Robotaxi Expansion in San Francisco
California utility commissioners vote to allow Cruise and Waymo to operate paid, round-the-clock driverless ride services across San Francisco. The landmark decision makes the city the first major U.S. hub with competing robotaxi fleets, despite ongoing safety and traffic concerns.
California regulators vote to allow Cruise and Waymo to operate paid, round-the-clock driverless ride services across San Francisco. The state's Public Utilities Commission approves the expansion in an eight-to-two vote, making San Francisco the first major U.S. city with two competing robotaxi fleets.
This decision marks a major victory for the companies after they spend years and billions of dollars developing their autonomous technology. Both Cruise, a General Motors subsidiary, and Waymo, a Google spinoff, view this expansion as a crucial springboard to launch similar services in other congested cities.
The approval comes despite escalating fears about recurring incidents involving the driverless vehicles. Critics point out that the robotaxis frequently make unexpected stops that block traffic and sometimes impede emergency responders like firefighters and police, creating significant headaches for city officials.