Uber Bows Before California's Power and Parks Its Robo-Cars

Uber's showdown with California regulators is over, and the regulators won. After a week of legal threats, meetings, and very official letters, Uber announced late Wednesday that it would park the self-driving vehicles that have been providing rides in San Francisco. Legally, the company had little choice, because the state Department of Motor Vehicles officially revoked the registration on each of the 16 robo-cars after Uber brazenly refused to apply for an autonomous testing permit. Tough tactics aside, regulators did extend a hand in friendship. "I want to reassure you that the California Department of Motor Vehicles stands ready to work with you collaboratively," DMV Director Jean Shiomoto wrote in a letter to Uber public affairs head Davis White. Shiomoto said her agency "dedicated a team to work with you to expedite the [testing permit] approval process."