Cruise Wins Approval to Charge for Driverless Robotaxi Rides in San Francisco
General Motors' Cruise receives a critical permit to commercially operate driverless robotaxis in San Francisco. The company currently faces strict overnight limits but plans to expand to full citywide service soon.
Cruise, the self-driving division of General Motors, receives official approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to charge passengers for driverless robotaxi rides in San Francisco. This new permit allows the company to launch a commercial ride-hailing service without a human driver behind the wheel, marking a major milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry.
The regulatory approval comes with strict safety limitations that restrict the paid service to a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on specific city streets. These overnight constraints intentionally keep the driverless vehicles out of San Francisco's densest urban core during the busiest daytime hours.
With this decision, Cruise becomes the only company legally permitted to run a fully driverless commercial ride-hail operation in the city, giving it an edge over competitors like Waymo. A company spokesperson shares that Cruise plans to gradually broaden its operating hours and geographic area until it achieves 24/7 paid rides across all of San Francisco.