President-elect Donald Trump’s team is reportedly prioritizing the creation of a federal framework for self-driving cars, a move that could directly support Tesla’s plans for fully autonomous vehicles, according to unnamed sources speaking to Bloomberg.
Current U.S. regulations limit the deployment of vehicles without human controls, such as steering wheels and pedals, making it difficult for Tesla and others to roll out these cars at scale.
If new federal rules allow for the widespread use of autonomous vehicles, it would be a significant win for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of self-driving technology. Musk, a well-known donor to Trump’s campaign, has based Tesla’s future on developing autonomous vehicles.
The Trump transition team is looking for ways to clear regulatory roadblocks for self-driving cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can create rules to make it easier to deploy these vehicles, but larger changes will require Congress to pass new laws. Early discussions in Congress aim to develop bipartisan legislation that could pave the way for mass adoption of autonomous vehicles.
Musk has been actively pushing for federal support, even mentioning during Tesla’s recent earnings call that national rules would help Tesla and other companies bring autonomous cars to the public faster. Tesla is already working on its robotaxi project, planning to produce large numbers of driverless cars, dubbed “Cybercabs,” by 2026. Tesla is set to roll out FSD 13 any time now.
Right now, U.S. regulations only allow companies to deploy 2,500 self-driving vehicles per year through exemptions. Past attempts to increase this limit to 100,000 vehicles have failed in Congress, leaving companies like Tesla stuck with strict caps. If the Trump administration succeeds in pushing for regulatory changes, it could significantly expand the market for autonomous cars.
Musk’s involvement in this effort seems likely, as he was recently named by Trump to lead an initiative to streamline government bureaucracy, known as D.O.G.E. Musk has consistently argued that self-driving technology needs a clear legal framework to succeed, calling it essential for Tesla’s future plans.
Although there’s excitement about potential changes, getting federal legislation passed won’t be easy. Previous efforts to regulate self-driving cars stalled due to disagreements in Congress, including debates over consumer protections. Whether Trump’s team can navigate these hurdles remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure, Musk has a direct voice to Trump. The Tesla CEO arrived with the President-elect and his team to the UFC fight in New York City on Saturday, seated next to Trump.