Google Expands Self-Driving Car Test Network

CARS.COM — Google announced today that it will begin testing its self-driving cars in Phoenix, bringing the number of testing locations to four behind Mountain View, Calif.; Austin, Texas; and Kirkland, Wash. “This new location will give our cars a chance to practice driving in a desert environment — and experience handling some of Phoenix’s quirks, like cacti, golf cart crossings, and time-based speed limits,” Google said in a statement.

Related: More Self-Driving Car News

Google will test its fleet of self-driving cars in the metro Phoenix area, using both modified Lexus RX 450h SUVs, like the one that hit a bus in March, and prototype vehicles designed by Google. According to Google, the autonomous vehicle test fleet has logged more than 1.5 million miles of driving.