The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) made the decision after a contentious six-hour hearing, in which citizens expressed their concerns regarding the expansion of self-driving cars in San Francisco.

“Today is the first of many steps in bringing AV transportation services to Californians,” said John Reynolds, CPUC commissioner and former Cruise general counsel. 

Over the past year, Cruise has been testing 300 robotaxis in the streets of San Francisco. The service was free during the day, and paid at night, when only 100 robotaxis were allowed to operate. Meanwhile, Waymo's 100 autonomous vehicles have been providing free rides to volunteers and employees throughout the city. 

Although the two companies have stressed that robotaxis remove the risks associated with human errors, California residents have highlighted the cars’ recurring problems, including unexpected stops and other erratic behaviour. 

“Can driverless vehicles assist passengers...