Autonomous car passes learner driver licence test in the US

A Hyundai electric self-driving taxi has been shown passing a learner driver licence test in the US state of Nevada.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 'robotaxi' was subjected to a driving test conducted by a professional examiner – who marked the autonomous car like a human – carrying out manoeuvres such as lane changes, stopping at a stop sign, performing left turns, and reacting quickly to hazards ahead.

The promotional video shows the Ioniq 5 robotaxi impressed, including with its ability to “effortlessly navigate the Las Vegas Strip”, as well as other suburban areas, according to Hyundai.

The video is a clever way of demonstrating the capabilities of Hyundai's autonomous driving technology.

“I’m a DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles] certified driving examiner with 25 years of experience. In that time, I’ve failed thousands and thousands of students in the interest of public safety,” said Kandice Jones, the examiner who tested the robotaxi.

“It’s going to be the same criteria – just like testing a human. We monitored the speed, lane changes. I graded manoeuvres, making a complete stop, left turns, maintaining the lane, and, of course, reaction time.”

According to Nevada’s North West Driving School, 50 per cent of people who take their test in the state pass on their first attempt.

However – in case you were wondering if an autonomous car can actually pass a driving test and earn a driver's licence – the exam was a mock test designed to replicate the real one, and Hyundai says the driver's license shown in the promotional video and photos is not an actual licence.

Unveiled in 2021, the robotaxi was developed in partnership with Motional – an autonomous car tech firm based in the US – and offers 'Level 4' autonomous driving capabilities, which allows the car to drive itself in certain conditions without a human paying attention.

Set to be deployed in the Los Angeles area, the robotaxi joins a number of autonomous vehicles testing in California and other western US states – including Google’s Waymo and General Motors' ailing Cruise autonomous vehicle service.