After a contentious public hearing, the California Public Utilities Commission will let Waymo and Cruise operate driverless cabs 24/7 throughout San Francisco
Waymo and Cruise were approved to operate their robotaxi services 24/7 in San Francisco after a contentious six-hour public hearing …
The VergeAndrew J. Hawkins
Context & Ripple Effects
The approval resolves a regulatory fight in which city officials objected to having limited control over the proposed service expansion, as outlined before the decision in the planned statewide regulatory vote. It makes San Francisco a full-time operating ground for both companies rather than a limited pilot setting.
The decision also became an early test of whether permission to operate translates into public acceptance: related coverage soon documented traffic and emergency-access concerns involving robotaxis. Later, Waymo received approval to extend fared service beyond the city, linking this ruling to a broader California expansion path.
First-order effects
Waymo and Cruise can offer paid driverless rides around the clock throughout San Francisco, removing the operating-hour and geographic constraints at issue in the hearing.
The CPUC, rather than city government, sets the immediate operating permission, while San Francisco residents and emergency responders face more robotaxi activity on public streets.
Second-order effects
Continuous service gives both operators more opportunity to build rider demand and operational experience, but visible disruptions can intensify pressure on the companies and regulator to demonstrate safe street behavior.
Robotaxi deployment is likely to hinge as much on governance and public legitimacy as on vehicle capability: state-level approvals can accelerate rollout while concentrating accountability when local impacts emerge.
If other jurisdictions follow California's model, autonomous-ride services may expand city by city through regulatory permissions, with operational incidents determining whether those permissions remain durable.
The trend: Robotaxis are moving from bounded testing toward always-on commercial service, with local disruption and regulatory authority becoming central constraints on scale.
Thrilled to announce that the California Public Utilities Commission just approved @Cruise for fared operation 24/7 across all of San Francisco! It's a huge milestone for the AV industry, but even more importantly a signal to the country that CA prioritizes progress over our...
We've been waiting for this moment and now we can share it with you: Today, we received our paid driverless permit from the CPUC! In the coming weeks, we'll begin charging fares for rider-only trips and welcoming new riders into Waymo One in San Francisco. https://waymo.com/... […
Thank you to California Publif Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds and commissioners Darcie Houck and John Reynolds for voting for expanding autonomous driving in San Francisco Accelerating the adoption of this technology will save lives
To be clear: autonomous vehicles jeopardize public safety & eliminate good jobs. The California Labor Movement stands in opposition to expanding San Francisco's dangerous pilot program. We deserve better from the CPUC. [image]
We have granted additional operating authority for @Cruise and @Waymo to conduct commercial passenger service using driverless vehicles in San Francisco. The approval includes the ability for both companies to charge fares for rides at any time of day. https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/...…
In @TheAtlantic, I explained why I welcome the robotaxi uproar in San Francisco. Even if self-driving cars work flawlessly (unlike now), they could be catastrophic for cities and the planet. We should think long and hard before letting them scale. 🧵 https://www.theatlantic.com/ .…
Found this picture of my first demo drive of a self driving car ever, in what would later become Waymo. Dated Aug 2013, ~exactly one decade ago :) What I experienced then was quite good already, zero intervention drive around the area. How long it takes to make demos *real*... [i…
This wouldn't have been possible without the support of our INCREDIBLE riders; the amazing, patient folks on our waitlist; and all the residents of SF who made their voices heard. SF is an extraordinary city, one that I ❤️ so much, and AVs will make it even better. Let's go!!!!
CA Votes YES on Full Self-Driving Taxi Rollout in San Francisco in win for @Cruise and @Waymo The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 3-1 today to allow autonomous vehicle companies Waymo and Cruise's self-driving taxi operations in San Francisco to operate 24/7..…
Another video of a Cruise autonomous vehicle putting our members in an unsafe situation. Just sent by one of my members in San Francisco. This is ridiculous. [video]
NEWS: The California CPUC has voted to approve expanded driverless fare-charging rides in San Francisco for @Waymo @Cruise Story coming: Statement: [image]
A tremendous milestone for the AV industry, but even more importantly a signal to the country that CA prioritizes progress over the status quo. We share the CPUC's commitment to delivering safer, cleaner and more accessible transportation options. With road fatalities...
Imagine being president of the board of supervisors like @AaronPeskin presiding over a period of record robberies in San Francisco and deciding that autonomous vehicles—a rare bright spot in the city's progress—was going to be the hill to die on