Argo AI Offers Public Rides in California Autonomous Vehicles

Argo AI Receives Permit for Autonomous Vehicle Testing in California

Argo AI, a startup developing self-driving technology with backing from Ford and VW, has been granted a permit by the state of California. This authorization enables the company to offer complimentary rides to the public utilizing its autonomous vehicles on California’s roadways.

Pilot Program Approval

The permit, officially termed a Drivered AV pilot permit, was issued earlier this month by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), as documented in the approved application. Its publication on the CPUC website occurred shortly after Argo and Ford jointly announced their intention to deploy a fleet of at least 1,000 self-driving vehicles within the Lyft ride-hailing network over the next five years. Initial launch cities include Miami and Austin.

Expanding Beyond Traditional Testing

This permit is part of the state’s Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service pilot program. It positions Argo AI among a select and expanding group of companies moving beyond conventional AV testing. This signifies a preparation for eventual commercial operations within the industry.

Since 2019, Argo has been conducting tests of its autonomous vehicle technology using Ford vehicles in the Palo Alto area. Currently, the company operates a test fleet of approximately twelve self-driving vehicles in California. Additional autonomous test vehicles are also deployed in Miami, Austin, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, and Detroit.

Other Participants in the Pilot Program

Several other companies have also received permits to participate in the CPUC’s Drivered Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service Pilot program. These include Aurora, AutoX, Cruise, Deeproute, Pony.ai, Voyage, Zoox, and Waymo. A key requirement for this permit is the presence of a human safety operator behind the wheel; companies are prohibited from charging for rides.

Driverless Permit Held by Cruise

Currently, Cruise is the sole company to have obtained a driverless permit from the CPUC. This allows them to transport passengers in their test vehicles without a human safety operator present.

Navigating California’s Regulatory Landscape

Obtaining the CPUC’s Drivered permit represents only one step toward full commercialization in California. Companies must successfully navigate a series of regulatory processes established by both the CPUC and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Each agency maintains its own tiered system of permits before allowing for the charging of fares for robotaxi services without a human safety driver.

DMV Permit Levels

The DMV is responsible for regulating and issuing permits for the testing of autonomous vehicles on public roads. There are three levels of permits issued by the DMV. The initial permit allows companies to test AVs with a safety operator present. Over 60 companies currently hold this basic testing permit.

The subsequent permit enables driverless testing, and the final permit is a deployment permit for commercial operations. Driverless testing permits, requiring no human operator, have become a crucial milestone for companies aiming to launch commercial robotaxi or delivery services. AutoX, Baidu, Cruise, Nuro, Pony.ai, Waymo, WeRide, and Zoox have all secured driverless permits from the DMV.

Deployment Permit Held by Nuro

To date, only Nuro has achieved the final step with the DMV – a deployment permit. This permit allows Nuro to operate at a commercial scale. Notably, Nuro’s vehicles are designed for cargo transport and do not accommodate passengers, allowing the company to bypass the CPUC permitting process.

CPUC Pilot Programs

In May 2018, the CPUC authorized two pilot programs focused on transporting passengers in autonomous vehicles. The Drivered Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service Pilot program, now utilized by Argo AI, permits companies to operate a ride-hailing service with autonomous vehicles under specific conditions. These conditions include prohibiting fare charges, requiring a human safety driver, and mandating quarterly data reporting.

The second CPUC pilot program allows for driverless passenger service, a permit currently held by Cruise since June 2021.