Trump Team Is Seeking to Ease Rules for Self-Driving Cars

Nov 18, 2024 thejournalbiz

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration currently permits manufacturers to deploy 2,500 self-driving vehicles per year under a granted exemption.

Members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team have told advisers they plan to make a federal framework for self-driving vehicles one of the Transportation Department’s priorities, according to people familiar with the matter.

If new rules enable wider deployment of cars without human controls, it will directly benefit Elon Musk, the Tesla Inc. chief executive officer and Trump mega-donor who’s become a powerful fixture in the president-elect’s inner circle. He’s bet the future of the EV maker on self-driving technology and artificial intelligence.

Tesla’s stock rose more than 7% shortly after the market opened Monday, extending its 28% advance since election day. Shares of Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc., which could face competition from Musk’s long-planned robotaxi network, each fell more than 6% in intraday trading.

Current federal rules pose significant roadblocks for companies looking to launch vehicles without steering wheels or pedals in large quantities, which Tesla intends to do.