California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Friday evening that would have required a human safety operator to be present any time a self-driving truck operated on public roads in the state.
Newsom’s rejection was not a surprise after one of his top business officials and many autonomous vehicle companies publicly opposed the bill, arguing the pause would limit supply chain innovation.
“Assembly Bill 316 is unnecessary for the regulation and oversight of heavy-duty autonomous vehicle technology in California, as existing law provides sufficient authority to create the appropriate regulatory framework,” Newsom wrote in his veto message.
