California Regulators Approve Waymo and GM’s Cruise to Operate Paid Robotaxi Services in San Francisco

California state regulators have voted in favor of allowing Alphabet’s Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise to operate paid robotaxi services using self-driving vehicles in San Francisco. The decision, which takes effect immediately, means that both companies now have permission to offer citywide paid taxi services 24/7. Previously, Waymo and Cruise had been running limited experimental services based on specific times and geographic areas. The approval marks a significant step forward in the regulation of autonomous vehicles, with the companies now able to compete with traditional ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. The move has faced pushback from local agencies citing safety concerns, but Waymo and Cruise maintain that their vehicles are safer than human drivers. Both companies are expected to expand their fleets now that they have obtained the necessary permits.