Self-Driving Vehicles News Updates

Robotaxi backlash is intensifying against Waymo and Cruise just as self-driving vehicles begin to gain real traction in San Francisco after years of development.

General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit has agreed to cut its fleet of San Francisco robotaxis in half as authorities investigate two recent crashes in the city.

San Francisco has launched an autonomous shuttle service less than a week after California regulators approved the expansion of robotaxis despite traffic and safety concerns.

A Cruise robotaxi collided with a firetruck late Aug. 17 in San Francisco, injuring the vehicle’s passenger.

San Francisco asked California regulators Aug. 16 to halt its approval of Cruise’s and Waymo’s unrestricted commercial expansion in the city, arguing the city “will suffer serious harm.” 

Starting later this month, an electric, self-driving shuttle operated by Beep Inc. will whisk passengers around a 1-mile loop in downtown Orlando for no charge, officials said Aug. 16.

Cruise, which offers a driverless ride-hailing service in San Francisco, now has a patch with the company logo on the shoulder of San Francisco Giants players' jerseys.

PHOENIX — The backup Uber driver for a self-driving vehicle that killed a pedestrian in suburban Phoenix in 2018 pleaded guilty July 28 to endangerment.

Ensuring nationwide standards for self-driving technology would assist with safety and efficiency, the leadership of a House panel said recently.

Congress is wading into the debate over whether automakers should be allowed to sell more self-driving cars while manufacturers seek federal permission to expand testing of the technology.