California Regulators Greenlight 24/7 Paid Driverless Rides in San Francisco
The California Public Utilities Commission grants Cruise and Waymo the authority to charge passengers for driverless rides at all hours in San Francisco. The decision removes previous time and geographic restrictions for the autonomous vehicle companies.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approves new permits that allow Cruise and Waymo to charge fares for driverless passenger rides in San Francisco at any time of day. This expansion removes the previous restrictions that limited Cruise to charging fares only between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and required Waymo to have a safety driver present for paid trips.
Both companies already operate driverless vehicles in the city, but today's resolution significantly broadens their commercial capabilities. The CPUC evaluates the applications against safety requirements established in a 2020 decision, ensuring that the autonomous vehicle operators meet all necessary standards before launching full-scale paid services without human drivers behind the wheel.
In addition to the CPUC permit, both Cruise and Waymo hold separate Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Program Permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The state requires these dual layers of regulatory approval, as the DMV focuses on the general deployment of the vehicles while the CPUC specifically oversees the transportation services provided to the public.