Uber is working towards replacing its human drivers in Washington, D.C., and they are starting the process by collecting data from self-driving cars in the city.
The testing will begin Friday and will include a driver who will maintain control of the self-driving vehicle but will map out roads in the car along with a co-rider. The company did not say when they expect self-driving cars to replace human drivers.
“We believe self-driving technology has the potential to drive safer streets, cost-effective rides, and increased access,” Uber CEO Eric Meyhofer said in a Thursday statement. “At Uber, we feel privileged to be taking our first step towards bringing self-driving technology to life in our nation’s capital.”
The company has raised over $1 billion dollars towards its self-driving car effort and is working on similar efforts in San Francisco, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Toronto.
Uber is also testing a new tool in California that will let drivers charge their own prices for rides. The goal is for the company to make a better case that its drivers are contractors and not company employees.
The co-founder of Uber, Travis Kalanick, left the board of directors last month. He was fired in 2017 as the company’s CEO.
