In February 2022, autonomous vehicle (AV) companies commenced public rides in San Francisco. Nevertheless, the city has initiated legal proceedings against the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which oversees AV regulation. The lawsuit aims to significantly curtail robotaxi presence in the metropolis, as reported by The Washington Post.
Legal Challenge to CPUC’s Permitting Decision
The legal dispute stems from CPUC’s August 2023 authorization, which granted Cruise and Waymo final permits to operate. These permits allow for fare collection, extended service hours, and unrestricted fleet expansion. San Francisco now requests CPUC to revisit and verify the legality of its decision.
Post-approval in August, San Francisco’s city attorney sought a deferment of Cruise and Waymo’s operational scale-up and a CPUC rehearing. Subsequently, in December, the city approached the California Appellate Court, urging CPUC to reassess its August verdict and withdraw Waymo’s permit.
The city has cited numerous safety concerns, including incidents involving emergency response interference. Despite these issues and opposition from the city, CPUC sanctioned Cruise and Waymo’s requests to function within city limits.
Additionally, the suit demands CPUC to formulate safety standards, reporting protocols, and other regulations to mitigate public safety risks, including those affecting first responders, traffic flow, and public transit.
Implications for Cruise and Waymo
Although Cruise has lost its permits and is unaffected by the lawsuit, Waymo’s San Francisco operations could be jeopardized. San Francisco officials are wary of the company’s unchecked expansion, despite its fleet of 250 registered vehicles not being fully operational simultaneously. Waymo, expressing disappointment over the appeal, remains committed to safe operations in partnership with local authorities.
Waymo Expands While Facing Legal Challenges
Meanwhile, Waymo is seeking to extend its driverless services to Los Angeles, following successful tests and free public rides in the city. With services already established in Phoenix, Waymo is looking to expand despite potential setbacks in San Francisco. The company and CPUC have until February 16 to counter the December lawsuit, and another suit has been filed at California’s Supreme Court over environmental concerns related to CPUC’s permit approvals.
