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Samsung Gets Self-Driving Car Permit In California (cnet.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the join-the-club dept.

Samsung on Wednesday has obtained a permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test autonomous cars on the streets of California. Samsung joins a group of other tech companies already on the list, including Apple, Uber, Nvidia and Alphabet's Waymo, as well as several automakers like Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Tesla. CNET reports: Samsung confirmed the news, but said it doesn't plan to actually manufacture self-driving cars. "As a global leader in connectivity, memory, and sensor technology, Samsung Electronics looks forward to participating in California's Autonomous Vehicle Tester Program and joining in the pursuit of a smarter, safer transportation future," a Samsung spokesman said in a statement. "While we have no plans to enter the car-manufacturing business, we are excited to help develop and deliver the next generation of automotive innovation." The company received a permit from the South Korean government to test autonomous cars in that country in May. Last year, it bought a car tech company called Harman for $8 billion.

9 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Re:More of this garbage by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    What's next, Procter & Gamble into bot-cars?

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  2. will it be battery powered? by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 2

    will it be battery powered? I don't know what is more unsafe bad software or the battery blowing up.

    1. Re:will it be battery powered? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      I don't know what is more unsafe bad software or the battery blowing up.

      Neither. It's humans.

    2. Re:will it be battery powered? by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      will it be battery powered? I don't know what is more unsafe bad software or the battery blowing up.

      Will it crash constantly like their Blu-Ray players? :-D I kid! I kid!

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    3. Re:will it be battery powered? by ctrl-alt-canc · · Score: 1

      Actually it will be a very safe car for pedestrians. If autopilot software fails, battery blows up the car, avoiding collateral damages.

  3. Re:Oh no! by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 1

    Oh please. It's not like any Samsung products spontaneously burst into flames or anything. What's the worry?

  4. Getting a self-driving permit is the easy part. by LordHighExecutioner · · Score: 1

    Now try finding a self-parking place in downtown SF!

  5. Me too!! Me too!!!!! by hackel · · Score: 1

    It feels like every tech company board of directors is suffering a childish "me too" syndrome that simply *requires* them to work on self-driving vehicles. It's so pathetic! None of these companies bring anything new or unique to the table. They're all competing to do the same damn thing, poorly. I can understand existing car manufacturers getting into it, but Samsung and Nvidia? Come on... It's like they're just jealous and want to play at the big-kids' table. I don't understand how anyone can take them seriously.

    We desperately need a coordinated, OPEN SOURCE movement for all of these companies to work together on the software for autonomous vehicles. All this duplicating of effort is ridiculous, particularly when it is something that society so desperately needs.

  6. Mr. Sung by kaatochacha · · Score: 1

    Why Can't Mr. Sam Sung just drive himself around?