California regulators are set to make a crucial decision regarding the expansion plans of two competing robotaxi services, Cruise and Waymo, in San Francisco.
According to the Associated Press, despite increasing worries regarding incidents that have led to disruptions in traffic and potentially endangered public safety, the California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to convene on Thursday to decide whether to give the green light to the expansion plans.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: In an aerial view, Waymo autonomous vehicles sit parked in a staging area on June 08, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Autonomous vehicle companies Cruise and Waymo have been testing their vehicles throughout San Francisco and residents are not happy with the problems that the cars are bringing to the city
Will San Fransico Give the Green Light to Expand Robotaxi Services of Cruise, Waymo
If these expansions receive the green light, it will mark a significant development, making San Francisco the inaugural major US city to accommodate two fleets of autonomous vehicles that directly compete with conventional human-operated ride-hailing and taxi services.
However, city authorities are cautious about this distinction due to the obstacles Cruise and Waymo have encountered during their controlled testing phase throughout the previous year.
San Francisco Fire Department Chief Jeanine Nicholson emphasized the issues these robotaxis have caused during a hearing, citing 55 written reports of their interference with emergency responses.
She expressed concerns that allowing Cruise and Waymo to operate freely throughout the city could exacerbate the problems, potentially leading to disruptions resulting in injuries, fatalities, or property damage.
Both Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, and Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet (formerly Google's self-driving car project), have highlighted their strong safety records, claiming their robotaxis are safer than human-operated vehicles prone to distractions, impairment, or poor driving.
They both view the authorization for their expansions in San Francisco as a pivotal milestone towards launching robotaxi services in other densely populated city regions.
They are convinced that their technology brings enhanced dependability, convenience, and cost-effectiveness against conventional ride-hailing and taxi services that depend on human drivers.
Read Also: Cruise, Waymo Criticize Humans' Bad Driving Skills Amid Robotaxi Permit Delays
Waymo Robotaxi to Explore Expansion to Another City
In related news, Waymo is exploring expansion to another city for its autonomous ride-hailing services, currently in three other US cities.
The company's focus has turned to Austin, Texas, as its next destination for the Waymo One ride-hailing service. Waymo has begun testing its autonomous services in Austin's downtown area, utilizing its all-electric fleet powered by the Jaguar I-PACE.
Waymo's Chief Product Officer Saswat Panigrahi expressed optimism about the company's adaptation to Austin's complex cityscape, signaling that the Waymo Driver is making rapid progress in this new environment.
The move to Austin underscores Waymo's ambition to establish a wider presence beyond its initial locations and to further integrate autonomous technology into urban transportation systems.
"Austin is one of the most vibrant and dynamic cities in the country, and we've found that the Waymo Driver is adapting to its complex cityscape incredibly quickly," said Panigrahi.
Related Article: Robotaxis Are Causing Problems in San Francisco, Now Looking to Slow Down Approvals in the City
