On Thursday morning, Uber loaded 16 cars onto semi-trucks and hit the road. The move comes after the ride-sharing company spent a week fighting with regulators in its home state.
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles determined Uber’s self-driving cars needed special permits. Uber disagreed saying their cars don’t fit the state’s definition of autonomous vehicles because they still have people monitoring them.
An Uber spokesperson would only say that they’ll be expanding their self-driving pilot in Arizona in the next few weeks, and they’re excited to have the support of Gov. Doug Ducey.
In a written statement, Ducey welcomed Uber saying, “Arizona is paving the way for new technology and new businesses.”
In 2015, Ducey signed an executive order requiring state agencies to support the testing and operation of self-driving vehicles.