StoryRegulatory
California regulators approve Waymo's paid 24/7 driverless service in San Francisco
Waymo received its driverless deployment permit from the California Public Utilities Commission on August 11, 2023, the final regulatory step before charging fares for fully autonomous rides in San Francisco. Waymo said it would begin charging for rider-only trips within weeks and gradually admit more riders from over 100,000 on the waitlist.
- CPUC driverless deployment permit; final regulatory approval for paid autonomous rides; 100,000+ people on waitlist
- Incremental rider expansion to ensure service reliability; plans full geographic coverage from Bernal Heights to Lands End
- Already serving 10,000+ weekly rides across San Francisco and Phoenix with fully autonomous vehicles prior to permit