Cruise wants to test self-driving vehicles across California

DETROIT >> General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit on Monday asked California for permission to test the cars across the entire state. It doesn’t have specific plans yet to expand testing in California, but applying with the Department of Motor Vehicles is a step toward entering cities such as Los Angeles. If granted, the test permit won’t allow Cruise to carry non-employee passengers outside of San Francisco. Cruise also has been testing autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles, and carrying employees, friends and family members in central Austin, Texas, and parts of Phoenix. Cruise says it’s cooperating in the probe and has driven 1 million autonomous miles (1.6 million autonomous kilometers) without causing any life-threatening injuries or deaths.