California regulators on Wednesday suspended auto-taxi service Waymo’s application to expand its service into more parts of San Francisco and into Los Angeles.
The California Public Utilities Commission said the application for Waymo to operate in the state’s largest city on top of a wider net in San Francisco has been put on hold until “further staff review” can take place.
The suspension comes as concerns mount over the safety of autonomous vehicles.
Earlier this month, Waymo recalled the software used in its robo-taxis, in service in Arizona, California and Texas, after two of its cars crashed into each other. One of the company’s vehicles also struck a cyclist this month, and protesters set fire to another.
Autonomous vehicles are idling in once sympathetic California. Last year, the state suspended the operating license of robo-taxi company Cruise. The suspension crippled the business, which is reevaluating its options under parent company General Motors.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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