President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to ease regulations on autonomous vehicles.
The proposed plan would integrate state-level permissions for operating autonomous vehicles into a unified federal framework. Once they receive federal approval, autonomous cars can operate nationwide without restrictions at state borders.
The goal is to create an efficient and consistent regulatory system by replacing state-level regulations with a unified federal framework.
Anticipation of early federal approval for autonomous vehicles caused Tesla’s stock to surge 5.62% on Monday, closing at $338.74. Its market capitalization rose to approximately $1.087 trillion, surpassing the $1 trillion mark once again.”
Tesla has expressed its support for removing electric vehicle incentives in exchange for the Trump administration’s faster approval of autonomous vehicle operations.
In October, Tesla unveiled its driverless autonomous taxi, the Robotaxi, and announced plans for mass production starting in 2026. To meet its 2026 mass production goal for Robotaxi, Tesla requires regulatory relaxation at the federal level.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently limits manufacturers to deploying 2,500 autonomous vehicles annually. During Trump’s first term, legislation to lift this limit passed the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate.
Trump’s transition team is reportedly considering expanding this limit to 100,000 units.
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