Washington, March 18, Leading automakers and tech organizations have called on the Trump administration to take action and accelerate the deployment of self-driving cars, citing multiple regulatory obstacles.
In a letter obtained by Reuters, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents almost all major automakers, urged Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to implement a national performance-based framework. The group also asked for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to be named the sole regulator for self-driving vehicle hardware, software, and operations. The letter was also signed by the Consumer Technology Association, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, and other groups.
The letter warned that failure to act on self-driving vehicle policies could result in the U.S. losing its leadership in this vital sector to China. It also criticized the inconsistent rules imposed by various agencies and state regulators, which it said could create safety gaps and reduce public trust.
The groups also requested that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) not require human drivers to operate self-driving commercial vehicles. They also proposed that self-driving trucks be allowed to use cab-mounted warning beacons instead of manual devices that require driver involvement. The USDOT has not yet commented on the request.
Additionally, the letter called on NHTSA to clarify that self-driving vehicles do not require manually operated driving controls and that passengers in autonomous vehicles (AVs) should not need a driver’s license.
The self-driving car industry has faced increased scrutiny, particularly after a pedestrian was seriously injured by a General Motors (GM) Cruise vehicle in October 2023. NHTSA has since opened investigations into self-driving cars operated by Cruise, Waymo (owned by Google), and Zoox (owned by Amazon). In November, Cruise admitted to submitting a false report in an attempt to influence NHTSA’s investigation, resulting in a $500,000 criminal fine.
In December, the USDOT proposed measures to streamline the approval process for self-driving vehicles without traditional driving controls like steering wheels or brake pedals.
Efforts in Congress to make it easier for robotaxis to operate without human controls on U.S. roads have struggled for years.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, a leader in the push for autonomous technology, told investors in January that Tesla aims to launch “autonomous ride-hailing for money” in Texas by June.
Tuesday’s letter marks the latest effort by the industry to push for faster regulatory action. In January, autonomous vehicle companies urged USDOT to assert its authority over the design, construction, and performance of self-driving vehicles.
In December 2023, both automakers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce called on USDOT, under the Biden administration, to take more aggressive steps in advancing self-driving vehicle deployment.
