Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive
January 03, 2020 12:48 PM

California DMV OKs light-duty AV testing on public roads

Alexa St. John and Pete Bigelow, Automotive News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California's roads might soon become even busier, now that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will allow the testing and commercial use of light-duty autonomous delivery vehicles on the state's public roads.

    The California Office of Administrative Law said that autonomous delivery vehicles (AVs) weighing less than 10,001 pounds — including those without safety drivers behind the wheel — will be able to operate on public roads with a permit. The proposal for use of commercial light-duty AVs was introduced in April.

    According to the California DMV, qualifying light-duty vehicles include autonomous passenger cars, midsize pickups, and cargo vans carrying goods such as pizza or groceries.

    The requirements for vehicles testing in California with a driver vs. those conducting driverless testing differ. The requirements for testing with a driver focus on the test driver's training and driving capability, while the requirements for driverless testing focus more on the vehicle meeting Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy standards defined by SAE International, as well as other compliance measures.

    The DMV will start approving new applications for operating commercial vehicles in mid-January.

    Autonomous delivery companies, such as Mountain View, Calif.-based start-up Nuro Inc., have been testing in other states. Nuro has a pilot program in Texas and had one in Arizona.

    Now that California has some rules in place, the next hurdle for autonomous vehicle testing might come from the federal government, which has restarted discussions on federal AV legislation.

    "What we're excited about is there is movement in terms of solving the problem we're trying to solve on the regulatory side of these vehicles that don't have people in them," David Estrada, Nuro chief legal and policy officer, told Automotive News, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.

    "And so we think and hope that the legislation will include a directive to NHTSA to advance those, that rule making that would remove the requirements for some of the occupant protection that you don't need for these kinds of vehicles. We think there's traction there."

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Goodyear to trim jobs amid 'uncertain' economic outlook
    2
    Executives on the move: Hankook promotes key U.S. positions
    3
    Our View: Early look at tire industry in 2023
    4
    Point S looks to grow with new initiatives, dealer program
    5
    Goodyear to upgrade Cooper plant in China
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION