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California Department of Motor Vehicles issues second fully autonomous vehicle testing permit

By Crawford Schneider and Peter Stockburger
April 8, 2020
  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Driverless Commute
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On Tuesday April 7th, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the California Department of Motor Vehicles issued only its second fully autonomous vehicle testing permit to Nuro, which designs completely driverless vehicles specifically for delivery purposes. The new permit allows Nuro, which recently received a rare exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, to test two driverless vehicles, without human backup drivers, on public streets in designated parts of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

The vehicles, which are driverless, but also passengerless, have a maximum speed of 25 mph and are only approved to operate in fair weather conditions on streets with a speed limit of no more than 35 mph.

NURO PIC

In order to receive a driverless testing permit, manufacturers must certify they meet a number of safety, insurance and vehicle registration requirements, including:

  • Providing evidence of insurance or a bond equal to US$5 million.
  • Verifying vehicles are capable of operating without a driver, meet federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or have an exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and is a SAE Level 4 or 5 vehicle.
  • Confirming vehicles have been tested under controlled conditions that simulate the planned area of operation.
  • Notifying local governments of planned testing in the area.
  • Developing a Law Enforcement Interaction Plan that provides information to law enforcement and other first responders on how to interact with test vehicles.
  • Continuously monitoring the status of test vehicles.
  • Training remote operators on the technology being tested.

In a blog post, Nuro tied the new permit to the fight against COVID-19, noting that autonomous grocery and food delivery can cut down on human to human contact and provide essential services to the most vulnerable. “Our R2 fleet is custom-designed to change the very nature of driving, and the movement of goods, by allowing people to remain safely at home while their groceries, medicines, and packages, are brought to them.”

Nuro plans to begin free delivery service to select customers in Mountain View with the goal of obtaining a full statewide commercial permit in the near future.

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California, COVID-19, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Nuro, San Mateo, Santa Clara
Crawford Schneider

About Crawford Schneider

Crawford Schneider is an associate managing director in Dentons' Public Policy and Regulation practice focusing on matters involving state and local government affairs, including legislative/regulatory research and drafting, land use and zoning, economic development, public-private partnerships, public policy surrounding disruptive transportation, and international trade and investment.

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Peter Stockburger

About Peter Stockburger

Peter Stockburger is the office managing partner for the Firm’s San Diego office, a member of the Firm’s Venture Technology and Emerging Growth Companies group, and co-lead of the Firm’s Autonomous Vehicle practice. With a focus on data privacy and security, Peter works with clients of all sizes and maturity to build and shore up their privacy and security programs, deploy technology, enhance compliance and stakeholder confidence, take new products to market, work through data governance and retention challenges, navigate workplace disputes, and harness emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

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