Uber stops AV testing “indefinitely” in California, Pennsylvania, and Toronto

Enlarge / Uber's current self-driving cars are based on the Volvo XC90. (credit: Uber)

In a Tuesday letter to Uber, the California Department of Motor Vehicles formally acknowledged that Uber will not seek to renew its autonomous vehicle permit in the state, which is due to expire at the end of March 2018.

In addition, the brief letter notes that Uber has also "indefinitely suspended" such testing in Pennsylvania-the home of its Pittsburgh research center-and in Arizona and Toronto. Uber had been ordered by Gov. Doug Ducey to halt testing in Arizona, the site of its recent tragic accident that killed a woman in Tempe.

"Prior to resuming autonomous vehicle testing operations in California, Uber must apply for a new autonomous vehicle testing permit," Brian Soublet, deputy general counsel for the California Department of Motor Vehicles, wrote in the letter, which was provided to Ars. "Any application for a new permit will need to address any follow-up analysis or investigations from the recent crash in Arizona and may also require a meeting with the department."

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