The California Assembly has passed a bill requiring autonomous vehicles to report incidents such as accidents, traffic violations, and malfunctions to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The legislation now advances to the governor's office for final approval.

The bill aims to improve safety and transparency in the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry. Despite being responsible for issuing permits and regulating safety testing for AVs on California roads, the DMV does not require self-driving cars to report violations or malfunctions.

If approved, the bill would make essential safety data such as collisions and traffic violations accessible to the public through the DMV. This aligns with federal-level reporting requirements set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for AV data.

The proposed legislation responds to concerns about the lack of updated safety regulations since 2018, despite the DMV continuing to authorize permits for over 40 companies to test their cars in San Francisco.

Analyst QuickTake: California is a hub for numerous self-driving car companies, with several already holding commercial permits and many others operating under testing approvals. Mercedes-Benz, Alphabet’s Waymo, and autonomous delivery vehicle developer Nuro are among the companies permitted to commence commercial operations within the state.