Trump Administration Gives Green Light to Autonomous Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a new process for approving waivers to vehicle design standards. The move has significant implications for autonomous vehicles (AVs), which require waivers for omitting required safety elements such as steering wheels, rearview mirrors, and driver-operated brakes.

The waiver process is not going away, but the NHTSA is streamlining it to limit resubmissions and reduce the need for extensive back-and-forth between the agency and carmakers. Manufacturers required to meet MBE standards will still have to demonstrate that their designs meet equivalent safety standards. The effort aims to shorten a process that can take years to navigate.

According to a letter from NHTSA's chief counsel, the agency is going to update its application instructions and guidance with the goal of "adopting a more dynamic and flexible approach" to both evaluating and overseeing exemptions. The agency said further details will be released soon.

The agency will continue work to draft new standards specifically for AVs, but in the meantime will provide new guidance and flexibility for the "Part 555" exemption process. The move comes as the administration seeks to expedite AV development and deployment. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made the promotion of AVs part of his "innovation agenda."

While the new waiver process does not change the overall limit on the number of vehicles requiring a waiver that a manufacturer can sell each year, which is still set at 2,500 per company, it may mean that more 'robotaxis' will be available for deployment sooner than anticipated. This could mean expansion of service beyond the handful of cities currently testing the system.

Austin, Texas, will become the latest city to feature AV taxis when service launches on June 22.