Ford-Backed Argo AI Secures California Testing Permit for Autonomous Vehicles
Argo AI receives a California DMV permit to test one self-driving vehicle with two drivers, expanding its footprint beyond Pittsburgh, Miami, and Detroit. The move comes as the Ford-backed startup prepares for a planned 2021 commercial launch.
Argo AI earns a permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test its self-driving technology on public roads. The approval covers one autonomous vehicle and two safety drivers, marking the company's official entry into the California testing market. Despite this new development, California is not the primary testing ground for the Ford-backed startup.
The company conducts the bulk of its testing in its hometown of Pittsburgh, while also operating active programs in Miami, Detroit, and Washington, D.C. As an independent company heavily funded by Ford, Argo AI focuses on developing the virtual driver system and high-definition maps specifically for Ford's self-driving vehicle fleet. Ford currently stands as Argo AI's only customer as they work toward a 2021 commercial launch.
It remains unclear whether the new California testing permit connects directly to the Ford partnership or signals a potential new business relationship. Argo AI has already spent months mapping streets in Washington, D.C. in preparation for autonomous testing, aligning with Ford's timeline to put self-driving cars on public roads in the first quarter of 2019. Observers await further details on how this West Coast expansion fits into the company's broader strategy.