The first vehicle to be able to drive itself, a ride-sharing service called Uber, has been testing its autonomous vehicles on a test track near Vancouver.
The service, called Xpress, has received the backing of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Transportation Agency.
“It’s a big step forward for mobility,” said Travis Ewers, CEO of Xpress.
“It’s about providing more choice for Canadians, more mobility options for our families.”
Uber was the first ride-hailing service to launch in Canada, and the company is hoping to get there soon.
It was established in 2013, and has now grown into one of the world’s most valuable and successful companies.
Uber currently operates in more than 200 cities around the world.
The company said the tests will take place in Vancouver, B.C., and Calgary, Alberta, over the next six weeks.
In the first phase, the vehicles will be allowed to take the first steps of self-driving, driving themselves and using their own sensors and cameras.
“The next phase will see the first vehicles go from test track to road, which will bring the company closer to achieving its goal of being able to offer autonomous vehicle services across Canada,” Uber said in a statement.
The Xpress cars will be equipped with radar, cameras, lasers, and cameras that are capable of identifying obstacles on the road and then automatically driving around them.
A fleet of vehicles will then be able access the Xpress network.
Uber said it will be able use those vehicles in other markets, including New York, San Francisco, Boston, San Jose, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Los Angeles.