Cruise Completes First Fully Driverless Robotaxi Rides in San Francisco
General Motors' Cruise subsidiary kicks off fully driverless ride-hailing in San Francisco, with company president Kyle Vogt taking the inaugural trip. The service currently operates primarily for employees as the company gradually expands access.
General Motors' autonomous driving subsidiary, Cruise, begins offering fully driverless rides in San Francisco using its Chevrolet Bolt EV-based vehicles. The service currently operates primarily for Cruise employees, though certain members of the public also receive complimentary access before a full public launch occurs. No one occupies the driver's or passenger's seat during these trips.
Cruise co-founder and president Kyle Vogt acts as the first official customer, hailing a completely driverless vehicle named Sourdough via a smartphone app on a Monday night. Videos shared on Cruise's YouTube channel document the entire smooth journey, showing the impressive capability of the vehicle as it navigates the city streets entirely on its own.
Following his initial trip, Vogt requests five additional driverless rides that same night, bringing along other Cruise executives to experience the technology. He describes the vehicle as having a gingerly yet confident vibe, noting that the absence of a human driver makes the autonomous vehicle feel truly alive. The company conducts these initial rides at night under the guidelines of a California DMV driverless deployment permit.