Former Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt took to social media on Saturday to celebrate the retirement of San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson, a known critic of autonomous vehicles. Vogt described Nicholson’s departure as a sign of progress for the city, suggesting her opposition to self-driving cars was hindering advancements in the field.
Nicholson, who has served as the city’s fire chief since 2019, is stepping down this month. Her tenure saw her become the first openly LGBTQI Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department. However, she is best known for her outspoken reservations regarding autonomous vehicle technology.
Vogt, in a tweet, shared Nicholson’s recent statement to the San Francisco Examiner, where she acknowledged the growing presence of autonomous vehicles and the need to adapt to their presence. This marks a shift in Nicholson’s stance, as she previously expressed concerns about their safety and effectiveness, even going so far as to tell the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2023 that Waymo and Cruise autonomous vehicles were “not ready for prime time.”
The debate surrounding autonomous vehicles in San Francisco has been intense. Cruise, the company Vogt led before stepping down earlier this year, faced a setback after one of their autonomous vehicles was involved in an accident in San Francisco. This incident led to the suspension of Cruise’s operations in the city. The company has since resumed manual driving operations in Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas, but autonomous operations in San Francisco remain on hold.
Meanwhile, Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo continues to operate and expand in San Francisco, offering autonomous ride-hailing services through its Waymo One app.
Vogt’s celebration of Nicholson’s retirement highlights the ongoing tension between autonomous vehicle technology and traditional safety concerns. While some, like Vogt, view the departure of a vocal critic as a step forward, others may see it as a missed opportunity for constructive dialogue on how to safely integrate autonomous vehicles into urban environments.
