Robotaxis are now allowed in San Francisco, whether locals want it or not washingtonpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is scheduled Thursday to make a high-stakes vote that will determine the commercial future for autonomous vehicle technology companies Cruise and Waymo — not to mention any other AV company with aspirations to launch commercial robotaxi services in the state. Cruise and Waymo already offer limited commercial services in San Francisco. If the CPUC grants Cruise and Waymo its final permits, the two companies will be able to charge for all rides, expand hourly operations and service area, and add an unlimited number of robotaxis to their fleets.
California regulators will vote Thursday on whether to grant Cruise and Waymo permits to expand commercial robotaxi services across San Francisco 24/7.
Data delivered via the gov tech provider could help city officials bring more taxis to underserved areas, better serve disabled riders and craft other programs. The push follows similar work in L.A. involving scooters.
The industry overhaul hopes to make city-regulated taxis viable competitors to ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft. But some worry about the ordinance’s potential data-sharing and wage depression risks.