Real robotaxi service gets a step closer in San Francisco (Updated)

Enlarge / One of Waymo's sensor-studded Jaguar I-Paces observes a pedestrian crossing the road in front of it. (credit: Waymo)

Update 12:07pm: Waymo reached out to clarify that it has actually applied for a drivered deployment permit, which would let it carry fare-paying passengers but with a driver in the car.

Original story: The day when robotaxis roam the streets of San Francisco looking for fare-paying customers is getting closer. This week, Reuters reported that both Waymo and Cruise have applied to California's Department of Motor Vehicles for permits to deploy driverless vehicles. The permit on its own isn't sufficient to begin operating a commercial robotaxi service, but it is an important milestone on the way to achieving that.

For several months now, Waymo has operated a fully driverless commercial taxi service in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. But as Ars alum Tim Lee wrote recently, "Suburban Phoenix is a terrible place to run a taxi service."

Read 4 remaining paragraphs | Comments