Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle operated if specified requirements are satisfied. Existing law prohibits the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads until the manufacturer, as defined, submits an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) , as specified, and that application is approved. Existing law requires the department to adopt various specified regulations relating to autonomous vehicles, including, among others, testing, equipment, and performance standards that the department concludes are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicle on public roads.
Commencing July 31, 2025, this bill would require a manufacturer of autonomous vehicles to report to the DMV a vehicle collision, traffic citation, or disengagement, as defined, that occurs when a manufacturer's vehicle is operating in autonomous mode in California regardless of whether the vehicle is in the testing or deployment phase. The bill would require these reports to contain specified information and to be submitted at the time the incident is identified by the manufacturer. The bill would require these reports to be submitted on timelines adopted by the DMV that do not exceed reporting deadlines required by the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The bill would additionally require a manufacturer to submit quarterly reports to the department that summarize the above-mentioned reports, vehicle miles traveled, unplanned stops, certain traffic violations, and wheelchair-accessible services, as specified. The bill would require the DMV to publish all reports submitted pursuant to these provisions in an electronic, open, and machine-readable format on the department's internet website within 30 days of receipt, as specified. The bill would authorize the DMV to suspend or revoke the testing and deployment permit of any manufacturer while an investigation of any violations is pending.