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In About-Face, Uber Will Apply for Calif. Self-Driving Car Permit

The ride-hailing app previously argued that it didn't need the $150 permit since humans were present in its autonomous Volvo XC90 SUVs at all times.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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It wasn't long ago that Uber dramatically pulled its fleet of autonomous Volvos from California's streets after refusing to secure an Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit in the state.

Now, Uber has decided to play by California's rules after all. According to The Mercury News, Uber will apply for the state permit required to test its autonomous vehicles in the state.

The ride-hailing app previously argued that it didn't need the $150 permit since humans were present in its autonomous Volvo XC90 SUVs at all times, ready to take over if necessary. The California DMV didn't agree and revoked the SUVs' registrations, effectively ending the expiriment. Uber in December loaded its vehicles onto flatbed trucks and rolled them over to Arizona, where Gov. Doug Ducey welcomed them with open arms.

Passengers in Tempe now have the option to get picked up by a self-driving Uber. The company's self-driving vehicles still have a human behind the wheel to take over if something goes wrong.

Uber did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment, but the company has confirmed it will be taking steps to begin testing in California again.

"As we said in December, Uber remains 100 percent committed to California," an Uber spokeswoman told The Mercury News.

Meanwhile, the about-face in California comes as Uber was dealt a legal setback in London this week. According to Reuters, a London court ruled that Uber drivers are indeed required to pass an English language exam to prove their reading and writing skills. Uber had challenged the mandate, arguing that it would cause 33,000 London drivers to lose their licenses.

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick also this week found himself at the center of another controversy after being caught on a dash camera disrespecting a driver. In the video, first published on Bloomberg, Kalanick raises his voice and uses profanities while arguing with an Uber driver, identified as Fawzi Kamel, over fares. Kalanick has since issued an apology.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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