Didi Chuxing Granted Permission To Test Self-Driving Vehicles In California - Wait...WHO??

Chinese tech company Didi Chuxing has permission to test self-driving cars on public roads in California as of May 10, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles website, where permit holders are listed. That could be bad news for Uber.

Didi bought Uber's Chinese ride-hailing operations in 2016 and is expected to compete directly with the U.S. company in Mexico. Self-driving car tests represent another angle from which Didi could attack Uber, which suspended its own tests after a fatal crash in Arizona in March. Didi is one of multiple Chinese tech companies aiming to develop self-driving cars.

TomM - 5/14/2018 6:34:38 PM

+2 Boost

Until the Insurance situation with self driving vehicles - (Note no such thing exists - even CA requires a potential driver to be able to take over just in case) along with the problem with insurance with UBER (Many Uber drivers do not have the Commercial Insurance required to cover them when using their cars as a business - regular policies do not) -I pass

SanJoseDriver - 5/14/2018 8:06:33 PM

+2 Boost

All US UBER rides have a $1 million insurance policy in play that is paid for by UBER: https://www.uber.com/newsroom/an-update-on-insurance/

MDarringer - 5/14/2018 10:39:29 PM

0 Boost

@SanJoseDriver, yes, but the stipulations on the person ubering are many. For example, it is VERY common for an uber driver to pick someone up and then "turn uber off" and work for cash under the table. Insurance does not cover that. Not Uber's and not the driver's insurance either.

SanJoseDriver - 5/15/2018 8:27:11 PM

+2 Boost

Really? I haven't experienced the under the table UBER deals before (even in places like Mexico). If I was a driver I'm not sure I would risk getting banned by doing something like that. In the under the table scenario you're right that insurance would not apply.