- President-elect Trump’s team wants to help smooth the way for driverless cars in the US, reports claim.
- Trump’s advisors say creating a federal framework for autonomous vehicles is a priority, according to Bloomberg.
- Shares in Tesla rose by more than 7 percent in response to the news, which could benefit the automaker’s robotaxi plans.
By choosing Donald Trump over Kamala Harris Americans earlier this month Americans might have fastracked the disappearance of the steering wheel. President-elect Trump’s team have reportedly said that clearing a legal path for autonomous cars is one of the most important tasks for the Department of Transportation.
Bloomberg’s sources claim Trump’s transition team told advisers that creating a federal framework for self-driving cars was a “top priority” for the DOT. Current regulations make it tricky for companies to put significant numbers of cars without conventional controls – steering wheel and pedals – on American roads, limiting permits to 2,500 per year. Attempts to increase the availability of permits has failed in the past but Trump’s team’s alleged comments suggest those obstacles could soon be swept aside.
Related: Tesla Cybercab Is A $30,000 Robotaxi Without A Steering Wheel Or Pedals
The news could be a big help to Tesla, which recently unveiled its long-awaited Cybercab, a sporty-looking two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel. The automaker’s Full Self-Driving package available on cars like the Model 3 and Y could also benefit from the changes. Currently it requires a human driver to be behind the wheel ready to take control.
Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk is, of course, a big Trump supporter, has been appointed joint leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and would have known long ago about the incoming government’s stance on self-driving.
But investors were excited enough about the Bloomberg story to send Tesla stock up by seven percent today. And the same news caused shares in ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft to fall by almost the same amount because the Cybercab poses a big threat to their businesses.
Not every lawmaker will welcome attempts to put more driverless cars on American roads. Cruise had its California permit rescinded after one of its cars was involved in a nasty crash with a pedestrian, and Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD are currently the subject of investigation by US authorities.
