Uber's plans to test self-driving cars have been given the green light in Arizona, Digital Spy reports.

The taxi operator has partnered with the University of Arizona to trial autonomous vehicles on the state's roads with the blessing of Arizona governor Doug Ducey.

The university will assist with Uber's research and development in the driverless car field, and the firm is donating $25,000 to the institute's College of Optical Sciences.

"All Arizonans stand to benefit from embracing new technologies - especially when it means new jobs, new economic development, new research opportunities and increased public safety and transportation options for our state," said Governor Ducey in a statement.

Uber previously established an Advanced Technologies Centre at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh to research mapping and optics for self-driving cars.

The taxi firm has offered no indication about how close it is to launching its own autonomous vehicles.