A coalition of self-driving car companies is urging the U.S. government to accelerate efforts to deploy autonomous vehicles, citing regulatory delays and growing international competition.
The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA), which represents major companies like Volkswagen, Ford, Waymo, Amazon's Zoox, and Uber, has called on the federal government to take a more active role in advancing self-driving technology.
The group released a policy framework on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for clear regulations to ensure the safe and rapid deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs).
Jeff Farrah, AVIA's executive director, stressed the urgency of federal leadership. “The federal government is the one that needs to lead when it comes to vehicle design, construction, and performance, and we just have not seen enough action in recent years,” Farrah said in an interview.
The industry framework highlights concerns over "regulatory uncertainty" and warns that inaction could cede the U.S. lead in autonomous vehicle technology to China. It calls on the Department of Transportation (USDOT) to assert its authority over AV design and performance standards and to increase efforts in areas critical to deployment.
In December 2023, AVIA joined other groups in urging the USDOT to streamline approval processes for autonomous vehicles without human controls, such as steering wheels or brake pedals. Last month, the department proposed measures to simplify these reviews, a step welcomed by the industry but seen as insufficient by many stakeholders.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the importance of rigorous oversight in an interview on Monday, emphasizing the need for public trust. “Being very rigorous in these early stages is helping these technologies start to meet their potential to save lives,” Buttigieg said. He added that stringent oversight would enhance public acceptance of self-driving technology.
The industry has faced scrutiny after incidents like the October 2023 case in which a pedestrian was seriously injured by a General Motors Cruise vehicle. USDOT investigations into AVs operated by Cruise, Waymo, and Zoox are ongoing. Despite these challenges, AVIA remains focused on addressing safety concerns and advancing innovation.
The group also wants Congress to clarify regulations, including removing requirements for human controls in vehicles that meet safety standards. It has proposed creating a national AV safety data repository to support state transportation agencies.
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly supportive of easing deployment barriers for autonomous vehicles, with Reuters suggesting his administration could provide a boost to stalled efforts in Congress.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a close adviser to Trump, has hinted at launching driverless ride-hailing services by 2025, signaling growing momentum in the AV industry.
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The United States has warned that nuclear talks with Iran could be discontinued if a high-level meeting scheduled for Sunday in Oman does not produce concrete progress.
After weeks of escalating economic tensions and record-high tariffs, China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met in Geneva on Saturday in a bid to stabilize relations between the world’s two largest economies.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has shared a warning about a possible air attack that could happen in the next few days.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15 to address the conflict’s root causes and establish a durable peace, a proposal welcomed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John, Sir Ian McKellen, and Florence Welch are among over 400 British artists, musicians, and writers calling on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to update copyright laws to safeguard their work from artificial intelligence.
Five fishermen—three Peruvians and two Colombians—arrived safely in the Galapagos Islands on Saturday after spending 55 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Ecuadorian navy.
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In a notable shift from traditional Republican policy, President Donald Trump has proposed raising taxes on high-income earners to help finance broader tax cuts for middle- and working-class Americans.
Ukraine is exploring whether to replace the U.S. dollar with the euro as its reference currency, as Kyiv aligns more closely with the EU and global trade fractures deepen.
The U.S. Federal Reserve kept its benchmark federal funds rate unchanged on Wednesday, maintaining the target range at 4.25% to 4.50%, in a widely expected move as the central bank navigates a complex economic environment marked by slowing inflation, global trade tensions, and political pressure.
Ford is raising prices on three of its Mexico-made models starting May 2, becoming one of the first major automakers to react to U.S. President Donald Trump's steep auto tariffs, which are reshaping industry costs and consumer prices.
As European NATO countries rush to strengthen their armed forces, large pension bills threaten to divert funds from urgently needed military hardware.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15 to address the conflict’s root causes and establish a durable peace, a proposal welcomed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John, Sir Ian McKellen, and Florence Welch are among over 400 British artists, musicians, and writers calling on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to update copyright laws to safeguard their work from artificial intelligence.
Five fishermen—three Peruvians and two Colombians—arrived safely in the Galapagos Islands on Saturday after spending 55 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Ecuadorian navy.
As Mother’s Day approaches, new tariffs are driving up the cost of imported flowers, putting pressure on an industry already dealing with economic strain.
Pope Leo XIV made his first public outing on Saturday since being elected, stopping to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis at St Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
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