The Industry

Uber Shuts Down Self-Driving Car Testing in Arizona After Fatal Crash

Uber reportedly plans to reboot the program in Pittsburgh.
Uber reportedly plans to reboot the program in Pittsburgh. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Uber is shutting down its self-driving car testing in Arizona and terminating around 200 workers in the state working on the program, The Arizona Republic reported on Wednesday.

Uber initially suspended testing in March after a self-driving car killed a woman in Tempe. The company says it had continued to pay employees involved in the testing.

“We’re committed to self-driving technology, and we look forward to returning to public roads in the near future. In the meantime, we remain focused on our top-to-bottom safety review, having brought on former NTSB Chair Christopher Hart to advise us on our overall safety culture,” an Uber spokesperson told the Republic.

The company reportedly plans to put more focus on its autonomous vehicle operations in Pittsburgh after the federal investigation is completed. The company has been running tests in the city since 2016, where it has actively recruited from the Carnegie Mellon University’s robotics center.  Uber’s initial choice to conduct the testing in Arizona was likely due to the state’s lax laws towards self-driving cars, along with infrastructure and weather that is conducive to such technology.

Uber will continue to operate its regular ridesharing service in Arizona.