California grants licenses to Google, Audi and Mercedes to allow self-driving cars on all roads
The State of California has granted licenses to Google, Audi and Mercedes to allow their self-driving cars to drive on all public roads in the state to facilitate the advancement of autonomous cars.
Source: Google
If you hate driving, autonomous vehicles are not too far away. Already, Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted that it will take about five to six years from being commercially viable. However, it might take a couple years more before such cars actually clear regulatory hurdles and governments actually allow them.
Nevertheless, to help advance the technology of such vehicles, the State of California is allowing car manufacturers and tech companies to test their cars on public roads. The Department of Motor Vehicles recently handed out 29 permits for autonomous vehicle testing and out of the 29, 25 went to Google. The remaining four went to German automotive giants Mercedes and Audi, who both took two each.
Jean Shiomoto, director of the California DMV, said, "Autonomous vehicles are the future of transportation. The potential safety and mobility benefits are enormous. Testing on public roads is one step to developing this technology, and the DMV is excited in facilitating the advancement of autonomous vehicles in California."
Google already has a fleet of modified Lexus RX450h hybrids ready and in total, its autonomous vehicle driving program has racked up an impressive 700,000 accident-free miles.
Source: The Verge
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