GM, Toyota Call For Relaxed Regulations On Autonomous Vehicles
0Sponsored Links
General Motors and Toyota will bring an argument before a U.S. House panel to call for changes in automotive safety rules and regulations. In turn, both automakers will argue by relaxing current regulations, deployment of autonomous vehicles will become easier, according to Reuters.
“Without changes to those regulations, it may be years before the promise of today’s technology can be realized and thousands of preventable deaths that could have been avoided will happen,” said Mike Abelson, vice president of global strategy at GM, in written testimony released Monday. “It is imperative that manufacturers have the ability to test these vehicles in greater numbers.”
Senator Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, and Senator John Thune, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee, said in a joint statement they are looking into legislation that “clears hurdles and advances innovation in self-driving vehicle technology” and hope to propose a joint bill this year.
The U.S. government has taken baby steps on autonomous vehicles, beginning with the Obama administration releasing “guidance” for states regarding the deployment of self-driving vehicles last year. Automakers have since urged President Trump to review the guidance and make amends for easier rollouts of autonomous fleets.
GM specifically continues to lobby for states to open up public roads for autonomous vehicle testing. Most recently, GM President, Dan Ammann, called for additional testing for its autonomous vehicles on public roads.