Uber’s Self-Driving Vehicles Hit The Streets In Arizona 2 Months After California Scuffle

Months after trying to force its self-driving cabs through legislative walls in California, Uber is ready to try again. This time, the driverless vehicles will be picking up passengers in Arizona, where the company fled after getting kicked out. Soon, users can order an Uber and potentially have the chance to ride a cab driven by a machine.

The announcement was made on Twitter by Uber, with the caption, “Self-driving Ubers are hitting the road in the Grand Canyon State.” This signals the launch of Volvo XC90s equipped with the proprietary self-driving technology that Uber is using. These are the same vehicles that were not allowed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to operate on its roads.

At the time, Uber was counting on the technical detail that there was actually a driver waiting to take over inside the car while it ferries passengers from place to place, which the company thought would bypass the requirements to run self-driving tests. Unfortunately for Uber, this failed to convince the agency and even the state’s Attorney General’s office.

Instead of complying with mandated regulations and simply applying for a permit, Uber stubbornly went ahead with its tests anyway. This prompted California to forcibly stop the company’s operations, effectively ending its tenure in the area, CNET points out.

The first to try the launched cab service is Doug Ducey, the governor of Arizona, NewsMax reports. The governor only has good things to say about Uber’s presence in the state and the concept of self-driving vehicles, in general. This is in direct contrast to the atmosphere that surrounds the company right now, which has spilled out to others in the tech industry.

Uber is currently facing sexism charges after a former female programmer revealed its cavalier attitude towards office complaints. As a result, tech companies are being scrutinized over gender issues once again.