It’s only been five months since General Motors announced it would acquire self-driving car startup Cruise Automation, but the new partnership is already working to expand its tests of autonomous Chevy Bolts from San Francisco to Arizona. 

Mashable reports that Cruise Automation, which is expected to continue to operate independently of GM, began testing self-driving, long-range Chevy Bolt electric vehicles in Scottsdale, AZ.

 

While Arizona might seem far removed from the self-driving tech companies of Silicon Valley, the area has become more popular with those testing such innovations.

Last year, Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order supporting the testing and operation of the vehicles on public roads, Fortune reports.

The Phoenix area of Arizona also serves as testing ground for Google’s self-driving venture.

Prior to announcing its acquisition of Cruise Automation, General Motors unveiled plans in October 2015 to introduce a fleet of “robo-Volts” on the roads of its technical campus and equipping an unspecified Cadillac with a semiautonomous feature called “Super Cruise” that enables a car to handle itself in certain situations.

GM’s Cruise Automation Is Testing Self-Driving Chevy Bolts in Arizona [Fortune]
Autonomous Chevy Bolt EV testing expands to Arizona [Mashable]

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