“Elon Musk is pushing lawmakers to help clear a path for driverless vehicles, part of a broader effort behind the scenes to lobby for a key priority of Tesla Inc,” Bloomberg reports.
“In recent weeks, Musk and people who work for him have been calling members of Congress directly to gather support… He has also been weighing in on revisions of a bill introduced on May 15 that would begin setting up a basic framework for autonomous vehicles.”
The primary focus of Musk’s lobbying is a bill introduced on May 15, known as the Autonomous Vehicle Acceleration Act, sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis. This bill proposes a national framework for regulating autonomous vehicles, aiming to replace the current patchwork of state-by-state rules that Musk and other industry leaders see as a barrier to scaling operations.
Musk and his team are pushing to either fast-track this bill or introduce a more comprehensive version before the July 4 congressional recess. They have also provided input on revisions to the bill, hoping to ensure it supports the rapid commercialization and nationwide rollout of autonomous vehicles, including those without traditional driver controls such as steering wheels or pedals.
Tesla has tied much of its future growth and valuation to the success of its autonomous vehicle initiatives. The company is preparing to launch a pilot robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on June 12, using a fleet of Model Y vehicles. Eventually, Tesla plans to deploy purpose-built “Cybercabs” that lack steering wheels and pedals, but current federal law only allows automakers to deploy up to 2,500 such vehicles per year under a limited exemption—a cap Musk wants to see raised or eliminated.
The Trump administration has shown an exciting openness to the idea of developing comprehensive federal standards for autonomous vehicles (AVs), signaling a promising step towards innovation in transportation.
“The administration’s policy is driven by one thing and one thing only: achieving the president’s agenda and his commitment to the American people,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields in a statement.
Predictions
By 2030, Level 3 self-driving cars—those allowing drivers to take their eyes and hands off the wheel in specific scenarios—are expected to comprise about 10–12% of new global passenger car sales. Level 4 vehicles, which allow for full autonomy in certain conditions, are forecast to account for roughly 2.5% of new sales in the same period.