The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) appointed a new adviser this week, and some Tesla fans are pointing out how the decision may be a conflict of interest that could be detrimental to Tesla.
The White House on Tuesday selected Duke University Professor Missy Cummings as a new senior adviser to the NHTSA, according to Reuters.
Big news for NHTSA, Tesla, and autonomous vehicle regulation:
"The White House plans to announce Duke University engineering & comp sci professor @missy_cummings as the new senior adviser for safety at NHTSA."https://t.co/BYOksybO4H
— David Zipper (@DavidZipper) October 19, 2021
Since the announcement, some Tesla fans have noted Cummings’s previous track record of being outspoken against Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD), while pointing out that Biden’s administration has, at multiple times, snubbed Tesla – despite being the only electric vehicle-only (EV-only) company with cars already around the world.
Tesla CEO @Elon Musk called the move “Odd,” with @Musk later going on to say that Cummings’s track record is “extremely biased against Tesla.”
Objectively, her track record is extremely biased against Tesla
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2021
Cummings responded to Musk, saying, “happy to sit down and talk with you anytime.”
https://twitter.com/missy_cummings/status/1450660642705321988
The news comes amidst an ongoing investigation into Tesla from the NHTSA over a series of Autopilot crashes with parked first responders. Tesla has until October 22 to respond to the agency about questions relating to how Autopilot handles emergency responders with their lights on.
The Biden administration also snubbed Tesla in a move to increase EV tax credits for Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler, and by failing to invite Tesla to an event in which Biden signed an executive order to electrify 50 percent of new cars by 2030.
Following the news, @WholeMarsBlog shared a petition to have Biden and the NHTSA review the appointment of Missy Cummings for Conflict of Interest and Bias. Users can sign the petition here.
Toyota, Uber, and Volkswagen have helped fund Missy Cummings research pic.twitter.com/Aj5wVnDkkG
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) October 20, 2021
