Vehicles: equipment.

(1) Existing law prescribes specified standards and requirements for the equipment of motor vehicles, including, without limitation, requirements and standards relating to windshields, windshield wipers, windshield defrosters, mirrors, and speedometers. Existing law authorizes the testing of autonomous vehicles, as specified, with a driver present in the vehicle. Existing law also authorizes limited testing on specified properties of autonomous vehicles that are not equipped in a manner capable of operation by a human driver seated in the vehicle. This bill would exempt autonomous vehicles, as defined, that are not capable of operation with a human driver or occupant in the vehicle, as specified, from certain standards and requirements for the equipment of motor vehicles and would provide specified alternative standards for those vehicles, provided that those exemptions or alternative standards are consistent with applicable federal laws or regulations. (2) Existing law requires all motor vehicles subject to registration to be equipped with a muffler, as specified. This bill would clarify that the requirement only applies to motor vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine.