The Great Slowdown: Autonomous Vehicle Testing in California Plummets
AV testing in California dropped 50% in 2024. We explore why, from industry shifts to driverless tech challenges.
Matilda
The Great Slowdown: Autonomous Vehicle Testing in California Plummets
The once-booming autonomous vehicle (AV) industry has hit a significant roadblock, at least in California. New data from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reveals a dramatic 50% decrease in autonomous vehicle testing miles logged in 2024 compared to the previous year. This sharp decline paints a picture of a maturing industry facing challenges, consolidation, and a shift in strategy. While the hype surrounding self-driving cars remains, the reality of deploying this complex technology is proving to be a marathon, not a sprint. A Deep Dive into the Data: Unpacking the 50% Drop The DMV's report highlights a total of 4.5 million autonomous vehicle test miles driven in California in 2024. This figure encompasses both types of testing permits issued by the state: those for vehicles with human safety drivers onboard and those for fully driverless vehicles. While a 50% reduction across the board is significant, the data reveals an even more striking trend in the realm o…
