Cruise Driverless Cars in California: Passenger Rides Now Available

Cruise Receives Driverless Testing Permit in California

Cruise, the self-driving car company owned by GM and backed by investors including SoftBank Vision Fund, Microsoft, and Honda, has been granted permission to operate its test vehicles with passengers onboard without a human safety driver present.

This permit, issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as part of its driverless pilot program, represents a crucial regulatory step towards commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles. While significant, it currently prohibits Cruise from charging for rides given in these test AVs.

Statement from Cruise

Prashanthi Raman, Cruise’s Director of Government Affairs, stated in an email to TechCrunch, “We are honored to be the first to receive a driverless autonomous service permit to test transporting passengers from the California PUC.” This permit is necessary alongside approval from the California DMV to launch a full commercial passenger service.

Navigating California’s Regulatory Landscape

The deployment of autonomous vehicles in California is overseen by two key agencies: the CPUC and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV regulates testing, both with and without safety drivers. Currently, around 55 companies hold permits for testing with a safety driver.

Driverless testing permits, signifying operation without a human operator, have become a key benchmark for companies aiming to introduce commercial robotaxi or delivery services. Companies like AutoX, Baidu, Cruise, Nuro, Pony.ai, Waymo, WeRide, and Zoox currently possess these permits from the DMV.

Deployment Permits: The Final Stage

The ultimate approval from the DMV is a deployment permit, which Nuro has already secured. This allows Nuro to operate commercially, though its vehicles are limited to cargo transport, bypassing the need for CPUC approval.

CPUC Permits: Drivered vs. Driverless

The CPUC issues both “drivered” and “driverless” permits, enabling companies to offer rides in their autonomous vehicles. Companies holding “drivered” permits include Aurora, AutoX, Cruise, Deeproute.ai, Pony, Voyage (now part of Cruise), Waymo, and Zoox. Cruise is the first to obtain the “driverless” permit from the CPUC.

To ultimately provide and charge for rides in robotaxis, companies must secure permits from both the DMV and the CPUC.

CPUC Commissioner’s Perspective

Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma emphasized the significance of this milestone, stating, “Issuance of this first driverless permit…is a significant milestone. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to transform our transportation system…” She also highlighted the potential for job creation and economic growth within California’s automotive industry.

Recent CPUC Program Approvals

Last year, the CPUC authorized two new programs allowing permitted companies to offer and charge for shared rides in autonomous vehicles, provided they meet the stringent regulatory requirements. This decision followed extensive lobbying from the AV industry advocating for rule changes to permit fare-based, driverless ride-sharing.

Reporting and Safety Requirements

The CPUC mandates that Cruise, and any future participants in the pilot program, submit quarterly reports detailing vehicle operations. Furthermore, companies must provide a comprehensive passenger safety plan outlining their strategies for ensuring passenger safety during driverless operations.