Zoox Gets First Permit To Operate Self-Driving Ride Service In California

Zoox, a startup working on self-driving cars, has become the first company to receive approval from California to run an autonomous ride service for public passengers in the state. The California Public Utilities Commission has confirmed that Zoox is the first company to join a state pilot program in which members of the public will be transported by self-driving cars.

“This is a really, really significant milestone as we head towards commercial launch, which we have stated is toward the end of 2020,” Bert Kaufman, Zoox’s head of corporate and regulatory affairs, said. Like many other companies, it had been testing self-driving cars with employees only before.

California has many companies that are testing their self-driving car technology in the state. Zoox is one of the 62 companies that have a permit to test their vehicles in the state. It’s the first to be permitted to carry passengers as part of a self-driving ride service, though.

Waymo has also launched an autonomous ride-hailing service in Arizona this month. It’s only allowing a select group of members from the public to use the service initially and will always have a safety driver behind the wheel at all times.

Zoox isn’t allowed to charge passengers, though, and it’s also required to have a human safety driver behind the wheel.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Transportation
Tags: Self-Driving Cars