>Why can a private for profit company "test" their systems on the public roads?
Some phase of testing will necessarily be of public roads. The fact that they started that phase prematurely doesn't somehow mean that "private for profit companies" should never test on public roads.
Boeing tests new airplanes in the public airspace too, over public areas.
Boeing certainly tests in public airspace, but only as part of a standardized certification process overseen by the US government - a process and set of regulations that are written in blood.
Some phase of testing will necessarily be of public roads. The fact that they started that phase prematurely doesn't somehow mean that "private for profit companies" should never test on public roads.
Boeing tests new airplanes in the public airspace too, over public areas.