Apple and Tesla have requested the Californian officials to revisit proposed rules for testing of self-driving cars. While Tesla has debuted models of self-driving cars, Apple has never admitted working on the self-driving cars, though its recent acquisitions in the auto space have revealed the company's interest in the segment. California's proposed rules aim to change the existing policies around self-driving that is believed to make things difficult for the companies in this segment. It's worth noting that California is one of the few states in the US to permit autonomous car testing, therefore, a change in police could have wide reaching impact. 

According to Reuters, Apple's letter to the state officials focuses on 'disengagements' where presently, the law mandates the companies to present a complete report of self-driving system deactivation owing to a possible system failure. Besides the system failure, laws also require the companies to report a situation related to traffic, weather or road conditions where humans needed to step in to take control of the vehicle. Apple, however, wants these rules to be extended to humans as well.

Apple has also demanded that wording in drafts be reconsidered with additional definitions being added to the definition of the term "self-driving" cars in order to avoid any confusion and ambiguity. The changes proposed by Apple are considered as an attempt by the company to have a conducive regulatory structure when it forays in the space even as rivals already have made some remarkable progress.

Uber and state officials have also locked horns over the exact wording in permit laws. Uber now conducts tests in California as well as Texas. While Apple focused on the personal vehicle space, Tesla, which plans to soon unveil its electric semi-truck has demanded changes to the polices around the commercial vehicle.

Currently, California does not permit testing of self-driving commercial vehicle units. Demanding a new set of rules to permit vehicles over 10,000 pounds for testing, Tesla said the rules presently stifle innovation. Tesla is open to the concept of self-driving commercial vehicles being used on private properties though the present laws forbid any testing of autonomous commercial vehicles. ALSO READ: Apple gets permit to test self-driving cars in California

Waymo and General Motors, on the other hand, have sought change to the liability laws. The currently proposed liability rules make manufacturers responsible for any fault in the vehicle. General Motors also moved for reusing of autonomous parts from scrapped cars, which has not been permitted in the past. Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG proposed changes to the amount of data requested by the lawmakers to be presented in case of failure or crash involving self-driving cars.

The government and several auto companies have been at loggerheads over the issue of the requirements for self-driving testings. The existing Californian law mandates the companies to come with manual controls, a move that have not been taken kindly by the most companies. Most car-makers are confident of self-driving cars coming to roads by 2020-2021.