CPUC Approves Full Use of Driverless Robocabs in San Francisco, With More to Come in California

Use of autonomous vehicle “robocabs” in a geographically unique city like San Francisco may portend the future. Under the Phase I Deployment Programs, participants could charge fares for AV passenger service. Thus, until now the companies operated in San Francisco (and Waymo in certain other California locales) with limitations. Cruise was authorized to offer fared passenger service in limited areas of San Francisco from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. without a safety driver present, fared passenger service throughout San Francisco at any time with a safety driver present, and non-fared passenger service throughout San Francisco at any time without a safety driver present. Waymo was authorized to offer fared passenger service throughout San Francisco at any time with a safety driver present and non-fared passenger service throughout San Francisco at any time without a safety driver present.