California Paves Way To Self-Driving Car Tests Without Humans
car&bike Team
1 min read
Mar 13, 2017, 07:40 PM
Key Highlights
- The state has licensed 27 companies to test driverless cars
- California granted testing permit to ride service firm Uber Technologies
- The change provides a path to the eventual sale of driverless cars
California, the largest U.S. car market, plans to allow testing on public roads of self-driving vehicles without human backup drivers by the end of the year, state officials said. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles is seeking public comment on proposed regulations for driverless testing and public use of autonomous vehicles that will no longer be required to have conventional manual controls such as steering wheels and pedals.
Current regulations require such vehicles to have those controls, as well as a backup driver. The proposed change provides a path to the eventual sale and deployment of self-driving vehicles in California, state transportation secretary Brian Kelly said in a statement.
The state has licensed 27 companies to test driverless vehicles on public roads, including vehicle manufacturers from BMW to Tesla Inc; suppliers such as Delphi Automotive Plc and Nvidia Corp; technology companies such as Alphabet Inc's Waymo and China's Baidu Inc; and a long list of self-driving startups such as Zoox, Drive.ai, AutoX and PlusAI. Also licensed are China-funded electric vehicle startups NextEV and Faraday Future.
Earlier this week, California granted a testing permit to ride services firm Uber Technologies after a legal standoff last December.
The proposed regulations enable manufacturers to certify that their driverless test vehicles can operate without conventional controls. The cars must meet federal safety standards or have an exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DMV Deputy Director Brian Soublet said in a media briefing on Friday.
The state will "rely heavily" on the federal guidelines for self-driving vehicles released last fall by the agency, Soublet said. Driverless vehicles must also have a remote operator who is capable of monitoring the vehicle's operation and communicating with any passengers.
A number of automakers have said they plan to begin deploying self-driving vehicles, some of them in commercial fleets, by 2020-2021.California initiated a 45-day public comment period, starting Friday, on the proposed rules changes, to be followed by a public hearing on April 25.
Current regulations require such vehicles to have those controls, as well as a backup driver. The proposed change provides a path to the eventual sale and deployment of self-driving vehicles in California, state transportation secretary Brian Kelly said in a statement.
The state has licensed 27 companies to test driverless vehicles on public roads, including vehicle manufacturers from BMW to Tesla Inc; suppliers such as Delphi Automotive Plc and Nvidia Corp; technology companies such as Alphabet Inc's Waymo and China's Baidu Inc; and a long list of self-driving startups such as Zoox, Drive.ai, AutoX and PlusAI. Also licensed are China-funded electric vehicle startups NextEV and Faraday Future.
Earlier this week, California granted a testing permit to ride services firm Uber Technologies after a legal standoff last December.
The proposed regulations enable manufacturers to certify that their driverless test vehicles can operate without conventional controls. The cars must meet federal safety standards or have an exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DMV Deputy Director Brian Soublet said in a media briefing on Friday.
The state will "rely heavily" on the federal guidelines for self-driving vehicles released last fall by the agency, Soublet said. Driverless vehicles must also have a remote operator who is capable of monitoring the vehicle's operation and communicating with any passengers.
A number of automakers have said they plan to begin deploying self-driving vehicles, some of them in commercial fleets, by 2020-2021.California initiated a 45-day public comment period, starting Friday, on the proposed rules changes, to be followed by a public hearing on April 25.
© Thomson Reuters 2017
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Related News
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
car&bike Team | Jul 16, 2026Studds Trooper Trail Flip-Up Helmet Launched in India at Rs 2,125Studds has expanded its Trooper helmet range with the new Trail edition, featuring fresh graphics and a new colour-shifting paint option.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jul 16, 20262027 Suzuki Hayabusa Receives Three New ColoursApart from the new liveries, the 2027 Hayabusa retains the same powertrain, electronics, and hardware.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jul 16, 2026Hero MotoCorp Enters Germany, Expands European Presence to Five MarketsHero MotoCorp has officially entered the German market, strengthening its European presence with the launch of the Euro 5+ compliant XPulse 200 4V range.1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Jul 16, 2026New Kia Syros EV Variants ExplainedThe all-electric derivative of the Syros subcompact SUV will go on sale with two battery options and in five trim levels.3 mins read
car&bike Team | Jul 16, 2026Triumph Speed Twin 1200 TFC Launched in India at Rs 21 Lakh; Limited To 750 Units WorldwideTriumph has introduced the exclusive Speed Twin 1200 TFC in India, bringing its latest Triumph Factory Custom model to the country right after its global debut.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jul 16, 2026Royal Enfield Classic 350 With Assist & Slipper Clutch Launched At Rs. 1.95 LakhThe assist & slipper clutch as well as USB C-type charging socket are offered only on the dual-channel ABS variant, with prices starting from Rs. 1.95 lakh (Ex-showroom).3 mins read
Shams Raza Naqvi | Jul 15, 2026Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider Driven: Rs. 11.25 Crore Meets 1,000 bhpWe got behind the wheel of the most powerful convertible from Ferrari. What makes the 849 Testarossa Spider Special? We tell you.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jul 12, 2026Tata Sierra EV Review: Reborn In The Electric AgeThe Tata Sierra EV isn’t drastically different from its ICE counterpart when it comes to design. But being the seventh electric offering from the Indian brand, it has gotten a few things right, and very few things wrong. But is it a compelling package to buy?5 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | Jul 13, 2026TVS Orbiter Long-Term Review (Report 1): Settling In Takes TimeFirst impressions weren't the strongest, but the Orbiter has made a mark in its first month in the car&bike garage.5 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jul 7, 2026Tata Altroz Petrol DCA Long-Term Review: Intercity & Highway Driving ReportWe tested the Tata Altroz Petro DCA’s highway manners, intercity performance, and real-world fuel efficiency.1 min read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 29, 2026Renault Kiger vs Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor: Which Underdog Deserves Your Money?Both the Kiger and the Taisor promise strong performance, solid features, comfortable cabins and everyday usability, all without breaking the bank. But which of these underrated subcompact SUVs deserves your money? Let's find out.1 min read