SAN FRANCISCO — A California regulator on Monday mentioned it has suspended a driverless testing allow for startup know-how agency Pony.ai following an accident — the primary time it has issued such a suspension.
On Oct. 28, a Pony.ai car working in autonomous mode hit a street middle divider and a site visitors register Fremont after turning proper, confirmed the know-how agency’s accident report filed with the California Division of Motor Autos (DMV).
“There have been no accidents and no different autos concerned,” the corporate, backed by Toyota Motor Corp., mentioned within the report.
Accidents throughout driverless testing should not unusual. It was unclear what side of this incident prompted the suspension.
“On Nov. 19, the DMV notified Pony.ai that the division is suspending its driverless testing allow, efficient instantly, following a reported solo collision in Fremont, California, on Oct. 28,” the DMV mentioned in an announcement.
The regulator mentioned Pony.ai has 10 Hyundai Kona EVs registered beneath its driverless testing allow, and that the suspension doesn’t impression Pony.ai’s allow for testing with a security driver.
The suspension comes solely six months after Pony.ai grew to become the eighth firm to obtain a driverless testing allow in California, becoming a member of the likes of Google affiliate Waymo in addition to Cruise, backed by Normal Motors.
“We instantly launched an investigation, and are involved with the California DMV concerning the incident,” a Pony.ai spokesman mentioned. Security is the “basis” of the corporate’s autonomous car know-how, the spokesman mentioned.
The corporate mentioned the vast majority of its autonomous driving testing has concerned security drivers, and that may proceed to be the case within the near-term.
Pony.ai, which operates within the U.S. and China, earlier this 12 months suspended plans for a New York inventory itemizing, sources instructed Reuters.
It halted the plans as a result of it couldn’t acquire assurances from Chinese language authorities that it will not turn out to be a goal of elevated regulatory motion in opposition to Chinese language know-how firms over administration and use of person information, the sources mentioned.
The Pony.ai spokesman on Monday declined to touch upon itemizing.