According to the DMV, California’s autonomous vehicle testing fell by 50% to 4.5 million miles in 2024. Driverless testing decreased by 83%, raising concerns over technology reliability. Reporting reveals only 31 companies are active in testing, with just 11 conducting road tests. Waymo and Cruise have shifted focus towards commercial operations.
Testing of autonomous vehicles in California has significantly reduced, reflecting a notable shift in the industry. According to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, testing miles logged in 2024 dropped by 50%, totaling only 4.5 million miles. This decrease encompasses both vehicles with safety drivers and those tested without any driver present.
The decline is markedly steeper for the driverless category, which saw an 83% fall from approximately 3.26 million miles in 2023 to around 552,895 miles in 2024. The DMV also revealed annual reports detailing disengagement incidents, where human intervention was necessary due to technological malfunctions or safety issues. These reports have faced scrutiny due to varying standards used by companies, complicating assessments of autonomous vehicle performance.
The figures indicate a narrowing field of competitors, particularly following Waymo’s recent shift towards operating commercial robotaxis and GM’s discontinuation of Cruise. Historically, Cruise documented 2.6 million test miles until its permits were suspended in October 2023, and it has not resumed testing since. Meanwhile, Waymo has concentrated on expanding its commercial operations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, diverting from extensive testing.
The DMV has also noted a marked reduction in new permits for vehicles with human safety drivers, issuing only one new permit in 2024, compared to four in 2022 and two in 2023. Currently, 31 companies have permits for testing with safety drivers, but only 11 engaged in public road testing last year. Notably, Tesla reported no autonomous miles for the year.
As reported by the DMV, six entities—including AutoX, Nuro, and Waymo—hold approvals for driverless testing, yet only three, namely Mercedes-Benz, Nuro, and Waymo, are currently authorized for commercial operations. This situation starkly contrasts the early days of autonomous vehicle development, which saw extensive investment and participation from up to 60 companies. The industry has undergone significant consolidation since 2019, reducing the number of active participants to a few prominent players like Waymo, which still leads in both testing and commercial mileage.
Despite some recent fundraising successes, including Wayve’s $1 billion in May and Waymo’s $5.6 billion in November, the industry appears more consolidated and less competitive than before. This trend raises questions about the future pace of technological advancement and innovation in autonomous vehicle development.
The significant drop in autonomous vehicle testing in California underscores a challenging landscape for the industry, marked by decreased participation and a consolidation of key players. With diminished testing miles and fewer permits issued, the future of self-driving technology appears uncertain. Increased focus on commercial operations by leading companies reflects a shift in strategy that prioritizes scalability over extensive testing.
Original Source: techcrunch.com
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