A national framework for autonomous vehicles is being advocated by trade groups, urging Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to make the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the sole regulator. They warn that without federal action, the U.S. risks losing leadership in the sector to China. Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is also pushing for a national approach to driverless vehicle regulation and plans to launch a ride-hail service in Austin. Tesla's service will initially use Model Y and Model 3 vehicles with Full Self-Driving software, as its designated robotaxi, the Cybercab, is not yet in volume production.
Key takeaways:
- Waymo plans to launch its Waymo One ride-hailing service in Washington, D.C. in 2026, but needs to work with legislators to change city laws regarding autonomous vehicles.
- Waymo currently provides over 200,000 paid passenger trips each week in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin, and plans to expand to Atlanta and Miami before Washington.
- Trade groups are urging the U.S. government to establish a national framework for autonomous vehicles, warning that inconsistent state regulations could hinder the industry's growth.
- Tesla plans to launch a ride-hail service in Austin using Model Y and Model 3 vehicles with Full Self-Driving software, as its designated robotaxi, the Cybercab, is not yet in volume production.