Waymo Gains Final Permit to Launch Paid Driverless Rides in San Francisco
Waymo officially receives its driverless deployment permit from California regulators, allowing the company to charge fares for its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in San Francisco. The company plans to onboard new riders gradually from a waitlist of over 100,000 people.
Waymo receives its driverless deployment permit from the California Public Utilities Commission, marking the final regulatory step needed to launch paid ride-hailing services in San Francisco. The company currently provides over 10,000 fully autonomous rides every week across San Francisco and Phoenix without a human behind the wheel. Now, Waymo prepares to transition from its free testing phase to official commercial operations in the coming weeks.
Demand for the service is incredibly high, with a waitlist that currently exceeds 100,000 signups. To guarantee a reliable experience, Waymo plans to welcome new riders incrementally rather than all at once. Once fully onboarded, these riders have access to the entire city, traveling everywhere from Bernal Heights to Fisherman's Wharf and from Bayview to Lands End.
Local residents and community partners already express strong trust in the technology. For example, Olivia Glowacki from The Women's Building notes that she relies on Waymo to navigate the city safely while protecting pedestrians, bicyclists, and other residents. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana highlights that this permit represents the true beginning of their commercial operations, allowing more people to experience the safety and accessibility benefits of full autonomy at the touch of a button.