On Friday, July 17, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued self-driving car tech company AutoX a permit that authorizes the company to test driverless vehicles on surface streets within a designated part of San Jose, California, pursuant to state law and regulation.

Since 2017, AutoX has had state authority to test autonomous vehicles with safety drivers, but the new permit allows the company to test one autonomous vehicle without a driver behind the wheel on specified streets around its San Jose headquarters. The vehicle is approved to operate in fair weather conditions and with light precipitation on streets. It can travel at a speed no greater than 45 miles per hour.

62 companies have an active permit to test autonomous vehicles with a safety driver in the state of California. AutoX is just the third company to receive a driverless permit in California. 

Before receiving a driverless testing permit, manufacturers must certify they meet several safety, insurance and vehicle registration requirements, including: “providing evidence of insurance or a bond equal to $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; and training remote operators on the technology being tested.”

Driverless testing permit holders must also report to the DMV any collisions involving a driverless test vehicle within 10 days. They also have to submit an annual report of disengagements.