According to this[1], Tesla has a CA DMV autonomous vehicle testing permit, but the question is whether that applies to this and to Tesla's autopilot, or whether it's for future work towards an actual autonomous mode.

That said, if Uber does want an actual autonomous more eventually, not getting that permit, and thumbing your nose at the authority who gives them out, is probably not a winning strategy...

...

Okay, just looked into a PDF[1] linked form the other article, and according to that, autonomous clearly includes what's going on here, and with Tesla's autopilot. I think Uber may have made a big mistake.

1: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/autonomous/testi...

2: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/d48f347b-8815-458e...