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.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical level and called fo...
The European Commission has put forward a proposal allowing carbon credits purchased from developing countries to be counted towards the EU’s 2040 c...
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow’s readiness to continue peace negotiations with Ukraine during a telephone conversation with US P...
The Russian Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday that Major General Mikhail Gudkov, praised and appointed to the Navy’s top post by President V...
The US House of Representatives approved a significant tax-cut and spending bill on Thursday, passing it by a narrow margin of 218 to 214. The legisla...
The US House of Representatives approved a significant tax-cut and spending bill on Thursday, passing it by a narrow margin of 218 to 214. The legislation has now been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
China has stated that trade agreements between the US and other countries should not be designed to target or negatively impact third nations. The response from Beijing came following a new trade deal announced between the United States and Vietnam earlier this week.
Last June, the Middle East witnessed one of its most dramatic military confrontations in recent history—a 12-day clash between Iran and Israel. Iran proclaimed victory, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claiming that the Islamic Republic had defeated both Israel and the United States
Indonesia is ready to pump $34 billion into U.S. energy and agriculture projects—plus a possible 75‑jet Garuda order—to head off steep tariffs.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Russia actively shifted its trade focus away from Europe and the United States, redirecting it toward markets in friendly countries—primarily China, India, Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The share of these countries in Russia's foreign trade has increased from 46% to 82%.
Fast fashion retailer Shein has been fined €40 million ($47.17 million) by France’s antitrust watchdog for allegedly having misleading discounts and unclear environmental claims, despite the company’s claim that the issues were fixed a year ago.
A multimodal cargo airport in Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Economic Zone (FEZ) is scheduled for commissioning in Q1 2027, the deputy head of the FEZ governing body Ismail Manafov announced.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Oil prices plunged more than 12% last week, ending a three-week rally, with experts expecting them to stabilize around $60 if the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment