HENDERSON, NV – Nevada’s Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) approved Google's license application, and issued license plates, for test-driving autonomous vehicles on public roads.

The Nevada DMV stated that its Autonomous Review Committee evaluated Google’s safety plans, employee training, the system’s functions, and the company’s accident reporting processes, in making the decision to grant the license and plates.

“I felt using the infinity symbol was the best way to represent the ‘car of the future.’” Department Director Bruce Breslow said. “The unique red plate will be easily recognized by the public and law enforcement and will be used only for licensed autonomous test vehicles. When there comes a time that vehicle manufactures market autonomous vehicles to the public, that infinity symbol will appear on a green license plate."

The Nevada DMV stated that although Google was the first company to file an application to test its autonomous vehicle system, other automakers have indicated they plan to test and develop autonomous vehicle technology in Nevada in the future.

The DMV didn’t state which companies expressed interest, but a few automakers have autonomous vehicle technology programs of their own. For example, General Motors is testing semi-autonomous vehicle technology in the Cadillac brand, for example the automaker’s Super Cruise safety technology. The automaker also pronounced that "self-driving vehicle technology" will be available by the end of the decade (2020). In addition, Volvo has tested its “road train” technology in Europe.