Startup Pony.ai loses permission to test autonomous vehicles in California.
California was one of the first US states in which it was allowed to test autonomous driving on public roads without drivers on board. Pony.ai was one of the first companies to receive such approval. But At the end of last year a Pony.ai vehicle drove into a tree with no crew on board. The license was thus cashed in.
But Pony.ai still had the license to test autonomous vehicles on public transport, as long as a person in the driver’s seat monitors the vehicle. Revoked last Tuesday California agency also this permission. The reason: Pony.ai did not monitor its test drivers. This was noticed when Pony.ai wanted to have the license extended.
The DMV found numerous violations of driving records. With the license, Pony operated 41 autonomous test vehicles with 71 safety drivers. Now Pony no longer has test licenses in California – but in China.