California votes to allow self-driving cars to begin commercial operations

Google-owned Waymo and General Motors-owned Cruise can now operate around the clock in San Francisco and San Mateo county

A California commission voted on Thursday to allow two self-driving car companies to begin commercially operating their vehicles in San Francisco around the clock. The vote makes San Francisco one of the first cities in the nation with commercial driverless networks operating at all times.

The controversial vote drew more than 200 public commenters and went over seven hours.