GM’s Cruise Unveils Robotaxi Fleet in San Francisco With 1,200 Driverless Vehicles

CHICAGO — General Motors’ Cruise division launched a fleet of 1,200 driverless robotaxis across San Francisco on Sunday, marking the largest commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles in U.S. history. The fleet will operate 24/7 across 75 square miles of the city, with fares comparable to UberX.

The rollout follows three years of testing and a $5.8 billion investment by GM since acquiring Cruise in 2016. San Francisco now becomes the first major American city where a robotaxi service runs without human safety drivers or remote operators at any time. The California Public Utilities Commission approved the expansion last month after a 12-1 vote.

### A new era for city streets

Cruise’s fleet uses the fifth-generation Origin vehicle — a purpose-built pod with no steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors. Each unit carries six passengers and operates at a top speed of 35 mph. The company says the cars have logged 8 million driverless miles in testing, with a collision rate 43% lower than human drivers in comparable conditions.

But not everyone celebrates. San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency reports 62 incidents involving Cruise vehicles since January — including blocking emergency vehicles and stopping in traffic lanes. Mayor Daniel Lurie has called for a 90-day monitoring period with real-time data sharing. “We’re not going to let 1,200 robots run our streets without oversight,” Lurie said at a press conference Friday.

Cruise CEO Marc Whitten responded by promising a dedicated response team that can reach any vehicle within 12 minutes. The company also agreed to pay $150,000 per year into a city infrastructure fund.

### Jobs and economics collide

The fleet’s arrival puts immediate pressure on San Francisco’s 18,000 ride-hail drivers. Lyft and Uber both announced rate cuts of up to 22% on routes where Cruise operates. The city’s Taxi Workers Alliance estimates 3,400 drivers could lose income within six months.

“This isn’t innovation — it’s a direct transfer of wealth from working families to corporate shareholders,” said Elena Vasquez, Executive Director of the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance. “We’ve seen the data from Phoenix and Austin. Human drivers lose 30% of their earnings in the first year after robotaxi expansion. The city needs a wage floor or a congestion fee to level the playing field.”

Cruise counters that its vehicles create new jobs — 1,200 maintenance technicians, remote fleet monitors, and cleaning staff. The company also launched a $25 million retraining program for displaced drivers, offering free CDL certification and EV maintenance courses.

### What comes next

GM plans to expand the Cruise fleet to Los Angeles, Austin, and Miami by early 2027. Each city will start with 500 vehicles and scale up based on demand. The company projects revenue of $1.2 billion from the San Francisco fleet alone in its first year.

But regulatory battles loom. At least six states have introduced bills requiring human operators in autonomous vehicles, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a formal investigation into Cruise’s emergency response protocols last week. Federal regulators want to see six months of clean data before approving interstate expansion.

For now, San Francisco residents can hail a Cruise via the app — no waiting list, no special invite. The first 100,000 rides are free, with a $5 credit for every referral. And if you see a driverless car stalled at a green light? Cruise says just tap the windshield — an audio system will tell you help is on the way.