Cruise Launches First Driverless Robotaxi Service in San Francisco
Cruise rolls out its first fully driverless robotaxi service for employees and select non-paying members of the public in San Francisco. The company operates the autonomous vehicles at night under a strict state permit while preparing for future commercial ride-hailing.
Cruise, the self-driving subsidiary of General Motors, launches a driverless robotaxi service in San Francisco for its employees and select members of the public. Co-founder and president Kyle Vogt takes the first official ride in a vehicle named Sourdough, which operates entirely without a human in the front seat. These initial riders do not pay a fare for the experience.
The company operates these autonomous vehicles under strict conditions set by a driverless deployment permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The rules restrict the driverless rides to the hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and limit the vehicles to a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. This permit allows Cruise to charge for delivery services, but it explicitly prevents the company from charging for ride-hailing.
Cruise still needs a final permit from the California Public Utilities Commission before it starts commercial robotaxi operations. GM CEO Mary Barra expresses confidence that the company begins commercial driverless ride-hailing and delivery by next year. Until Cruise applies for and receives that final approval, the service remains limited to free rides for employees and lucky members of the public.