In December, Uber began testing autonomous vehicles on California public roads without obtaining the necessary permit required by state regulations.
A public standoff ensued. The ride-hailing service argued that its autonomous technologies fell outside the scope of the state?s regulations and proceeded with its project. California?s Department of Motor Vehicles disagreed and responded by revoking the registrations of the 16 vehicles involved in the project. Uber executives finally capitulated and relocated testing to Arizona.
That move ended, at least for a while, the battle between California regulators and the high-profile tech company. But it didn?t end the company?s testing of autonomous technology on the state?s public roads.
Otto, a company based in San Francisco developing autonomous technology for trucks, has tested on California roadways since its founding in January 2016. Uber acquired the company for $680 million in August 2016, and testing continues today.
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?It seems obvious Otto is following the renegade and illegal practices of its parent company in testing self-driving technologies in California without a permit.?

?John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog

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A spokesperson for the subsidiary said Otto does not need a permit because it only tests driver-assist technologies that are similar to vehicle safety systems sold by auto manufacturers today, features that include collision-avoidance systems, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. Those systems ...