According toReuters NewsThe report pointed out that the California Public Utilities Commission earlier issued the state's first self-driving car ride-hailing service license, which was awarded to the self-driving car startup Zoox.
Although Alphabet's self-driving car company Waymo has openedSelf-driving car pick-up serviceHowever, it is currently only being implemented in the Phoenix area of Arizona. Zoox, the self-driving car startup that was the first to obtain a license from the California Public Utilities Commission, will also use a pilot test program to provide free rides to confirm whether the self-driving car operation process needs further adjustment.
Like Waymo's current service, Zoox's self-driving ride-hailing service will also feature an onboard driver to assist with accidents and respond to emergencies. Following internal testing and free trials, Zoox plans to begin offering a paid ride-hailing service by the end of 2020.
Waymo has also applied for a self-driving ride-hailing service license in California and will test unmanned vehicles in the state, though these vehicles will not be used to carry passengers for now. Besides Zoox and Waymo, there are currently 62 companies approved to test self-driving cars in California, and more are expected to apply for ride-hailing service licenses in the future.
