Uber Halts San Francisco Driverless Cars As DMV Revokes Test Fleet Registration

Uber co-founder and CEO Travis Kalanick wears a helmet as he speaks at an event in New Delhi on Dec. 16. Uber's puzzling defiance of a California requirement that it get a $150 permit to operate self-driving cars in San Francisco came to an end with the ride-hailing company announcing it was suspending the program. Uber had little choice: California's Department of Motor Vehicles revoked registrations for its 16-vehicle test fleet earlier in the day. "We're now looking at where we can redeploy these cars, but remain 100 percent committed to California and will be redoubling our efforts to develop workable statewide rules," the company said in a statement. Uber's stance began with the start of the test program on Dec. 14, acknowledging from the get-go that it had decided not to seek Autonomous Vehicle Testing permits, despite the fact that they aren't particularly difficult to get.