...it can drive itself to some limited degree without active human input...
Autonomous definition cited by the regulation means driving with no human intervention.
It does not mention "limited degree."
A conventional cruise control with a very good wheel alignment on a leveled straight test track can drive itself for a limited time but that is still not defined as Autonomous.
It is true that in real life, Autonomous still requires human intervention so it is not true Autonomous.
On the first round, Uber argued that because its test cars still require human intervention, so it is not real Autonomous and don't force it to obtain the permit.
The DMV revoked Uber's registration because it's testing purpose was for Autonomous despite of Uber's rationale that its human still controlled their cars.
Now it came back with a very clear intention: Manual driving and with no Autonomous Testing so it does not have to pay for Autonomous Vehicle Test Permit this second round.
...every Tesla AP car of any version qualifies as an "autonomous vehicle" because it can drive itself to some limited degree without active human input.
Tesla does have Autonomous Vehicle Test Permit for those Tesla manufacturer ones that enable Autonomous mode.
The rest of current customer-owned fleet do not have Autonomous Vehicle Test Permit because its mode is not enabled.
Current customer-owned fleet Autopilot is not considered Autonomous but as "assisting" system which is also agreed by NHTSA recent conclusion in the Florida Autopilot death investigation.