Driverless delivery service Nuro has been cleared of California first permit for the implementation of autonomous vehicles, which means the company could soon launch a fleet of autonomous commercial vehicles on the city streets around the state.
Nuro first got approval to test fully driverless vehicles in California earlier this year, but the new license means the company will now become the first autonomous vehicle company allowed to charge for its commercial services. According to its website, Nuro specializes in transporting local goods “fast, secure and affordable” and is designed to handle “errands of all kinds – from dinner to dry cleaning. ”
IN -one Medium post, David Estrada, Nuros Chief Legal and Policy Officer, said the company will soon “announce our first deployment in California with an established partner.” While deliveries are set to begin with the company’s small fleet of autonomous Toyota Prius cars, Nuro also has custom electric R2 vehicles waiting in the wings.
Issued by DMV in California, the permit originally only allowed Nuro vehicles to drive in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties – meaning autonomous vehicles will be able to deliver to Nuro headquarters in Silicon Valley, however, would not yet be allowed to take trips to nearby San Francisco or Oakland.
While vehicles are allowed on city streets at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, vehicles will do so. only be allowed to drive in “good weather conditions,“Which would mean no pens allet vodka deliveries on a rainy night.
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The announcement of the commercial vehicle license comes as Nuro tries to increase its resources in the self-driving market: The same day the approval was announced, the company also said that it had acquired Ike, a start-up aim at commercialization self-propelled trucks.