Driverless Cars: 15 Surprising Facts About Their Unique History

15. They’re Already On the Road—Legally

Fully autonomous ride-hailing services are now operational in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco, with companies such as Waymo and Cruise offering trips without a human safety driver. These live deployments represent the industry’s cutting edge. In August 2023, California regulators approved 24/7 commercial robotaxi services for both companies in San Francisco (wired.com). Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has been operating in Phoenix since 2020 and expanded to San Francisco in 2022. In 2023, Waymo also began testing in Los Angeles and Austin, with plans to launch in Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando by 2026. Cruise, owned by General Motors, initiated its robotaxi service in San Francisco in 2022 and expanded to Phoenix in 2023. The company has also announced plans to launch services in Atlanta, Miami, and Nashville (techcrunch.com). These advancements signify a significant milestone in the adoption of autonomous vehicles, offering a glimpse into the future of urban transportation.