Waymo to start charging money for its robotaxi rides in San Francisco
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit of Alphabet, got the green light to start charging for rides in its autonomous taxis in San Francisco. The California Public Utilities Commission awarded the company a permit that allows them to charge for rides as long as there's a human safety driver behind the wheel.
California requires that AV companies obtain a series of permits in order to start earning money from their autonomous vehicles. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles oversees test permits, while the CPUC determines when those companies can start commercial businesses. The permit obtained by Waymo is one of the last steps required before the company can launch a fully fleshed-out robotaxi business. The company will need to obtain a...