No Rest For The Self-Driving: Google Waymo, GM Cruise Now Operational 24/7 In San Francisco

Alphabet Inc‘s GOOG GOOGL autonomous driving tech unit Waymo and General Motors‘ GM Cruise said on Thursday that they received driverless deployment permits for 24×7 fared operation in San Francisco from the California Public Utilities Commission despite resistance from some citizens and agencies.

What Happened: The company will start charging fares for trips in the city at all hours of the day in the coming weeks, Waymo said in a statement, while adding that it will gradually welcome more riders.

"Today's permit marks the true beginning of our commercial operations in San Francisco," said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana. The company expects high demand with over 100,000 signups on its waitlist.

Autonomous vehicle (AV) rides are already available in San Francisco, though only in parts and during certain hours of the day. Waymo alone is currently providing over 10,000 rides every week across both San Francisco and Phoenix.

“It's a huge milestone for the AV industry, but even more importantly a signal to the country that CA prioritizes progress over our tragic status quo,” said Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt.

The California Public Utilities Commission voted in favor of allowing Waymo and Cruise to take paying passengers throughout the day on Thursday.

Several agencies including the police and fire departments together with several residents had opposed scaling autonomous vehicles citing undue interference and unpredictable driving. The commission, however, remained staunchly in favor of AVs with Commissioner John Reynolds saying that he believes in the potential of the technology to increase road safety, reported Reuters.

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