California State Board to Vote on Expansion of Driverless Taxi Fleets

A crucial vote by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on August 10 will determine whether tech companies Waymo and Cruise can launch a massive expansion of driverless taxi fleets in San Francisco. The outcome will not only impact San Francisco but also set the stage for future battles over self-driving cars and trucks in other states. The conflict between wealthy, assertive technologists and the anti-corporate, progressive coalition in San Francisco has been further exacerbated by the introduction of self-driving taxis. Waymo and Cruise have attempted to win over locals with goodwill measures such as sponsoring the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco Marathon. San Francisco Mayor London Breed has expressed support for the bill.