Nissan-backed startup WeRide receives permit to test driverless vehicles

Autonomous driving startup WeRide received a permit to test two passenger vehicles on California’s public roads without a safety driver in the front, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles said on Monday.

WeRide, backed by Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi, is also testing its driverless vehicle in China’s southern city of Guangzhou, reports Reuters.

Automakers and technology firms are investing billions of dollars in autonomous driving, aiming to take an early lead in what many consider the future of mobility.

Other companies which are allowed to test autonomous vehicles with no safety driving in the front in California include Alphabet Inc’s Waymo, Baidu Inc, Alibaba-backed AutoX and General Motors Co’s majority owned Cruise.