Cruise Launches First Public Driverless Robotaxi Service in San Francisco
Cruise opens its fully driverless robotaxi service to the general public in San Francisco, starting with a small waitlist of users who ride for free. The company operates under strict state permits with limited hours and vehicles as it cautiously expands this historic rollout.
Cruise officially opens its fully driverless robotaxi service to the public in San Francisco, marking a historic milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry. Interested riders sign up through a waitlist on the Cruise website to join the Cruise Rider Community program. The company starts with a small number of users and plans to ramp up the service gradually as it learns from the initial rollout.
The public rides are completely free, and users do not need to sign a non-disclosure agreement to participate. Currently, Cruise holds all three required permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test, deploy, and carry passengers in driverless vehicles. However, the company is still waiting for approval from the California Public Utilities Commission before it can charge money for rides.
This initial launch operates under strict limitations to ensure safety. Cruise runs just five robotaxis in specific parts of the city between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM, with a maximum speed limit of 30 MPH. The vehicles are also approved to drive in light rain and fog, bringing the company one step closer to expanding into additional cities in the near future.