California To Soon Welcome Its First Fully Autonomous Robo-Taxis
Following the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) decision to issue the first-ever Driverless Deployment Permit, GM subsidiary Cruise will soon be launching its fully autonomous, robo-taxi service in San Francisco.
According to New Atlas, this is the first time driverless cabs have been allowed to take on paying customers without having a backup driver on board.
Of course, the roll out will come with certain rules, with the CPUC’s permit only allowing the passenger service to be offered to the general public “at maximum speed of 30 mph, from the hours of 10 pm to 6 am daily when weather conditions do not include heavy rain, heavy fog, heavy smoke, hail, sleet, or snow.”
So if you were thinking of hitching a rid on an autonomous taxi to work during rush hour, you’re out of luck. Nevertheless, as Cruise puts it, the green light is a major milestone for the automotive industry, and will aid the company’s mission “to save lives, help save the planet, and save people time and money.”
Cruise will deploy its fared rides gradually to ensure a pleasant and safe experience for riders, with plans to expand its fleet in due time.
