U.S. Eases Rules for Tesla and Other Automakers Developing Self-Driving Cars

NEW YORK — The Trump administration is relaxing regulations to assist U.S. automakers such as Elon Musk’s Tesla in developing self-driving vehicles, enabling them to better compete with their Chinese counterparts.

The U.S. transportation authority announced on Thursday that American firms working on autonomous vehicles can obtain waivers to bypass some federal safety standards during their test phases. Additionally, they plan to simplify the reporting process for crashes linked to self-driving tech, which Elon Musk has previously described as burdensome. They aim to establish uniform nationwide guidelines for this emerging field instead of adhering to varying state laws.

We're in a competition with China to lead in innovation, and the consequences of falling behind are significant," stated Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. "Our updated guidelines aim to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and bring us nearer to establishing a unified nationwide standard.

The updated exemption processes will enable American car manufacturers to request waivers from specific safety regulations for self-driving cars that are utilized solely for research, exhibitions, and various noncommercial activities. These exemptions had been applicable before exclusively to imported vehicles originating from countries with differing regulatory standards compared to those in the United States.

The announcement was made just one day following Musk’s confirmation during a conference call with Tesla investors that the company plans to start rolling out autonomous Tesla taxi services in Austin, Texas, beginning in June.

It remains unclear how the exemptions from National Traffic Safety Administration regulations will impact Tesla specifically. The company has staked its future on fully autonomous vehicles, yet it currently faces strong competition, particularly from Chinese automaker BYD.

The modification of the crash-reporting regulation has faced backlash from Musk, who views it as overly burdensome and unjust. Given that Tesla is the leading manufacturer of partially autonomous driving cars in the U.S., the company has been responsible for reporting numerous accidents under this new rule.

Safety advocates were concerned that the Trump administration might abolish the reporting regulation. However, the transportation announcement on Thursday indicated that the requirement will be relaxed to "eliminate unnecessary and redundant" provisions, though businesses must still report accidents.