Searching for Transport Minister to Push Self-Driving Regulation Relaxation
Former Uber Executive Emil Michael Among Candidates
Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, is reportedly searching for a head of the Department of Transportation who will prioritize easing regulations on autonomous driving, Bloomberg News reported on the 17th (local time). This development is seen as a green light for Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has bet heavily on the robo-taxi business.
According to sources, members of Trump’s presidential transition team recently told advisors that they plan to find someone to push the development of a federal framework for fully autonomous (FSD) vehicles as a policy priority for the Department of Transportation. The sources added that a bipartisan agreement is already being discussed in Congress to establish federal rules for autonomous vehicles.
Bloomberg stated, "Current federal regulations pose significant obstacles for companies aiming to supply vehicles without steering wheels or pedals in large quantities," and added, "If new rules are enacted allowing cars to operate without human control, it would directly benefit Musk."
Last month, during a Tesla conference call, Musk urged the federal government to approve fully autonomous vehicles that can operate on any road nationwide without human supervision, saying, "If the government has an efficiency department, it will work to make this happen." Earlier this month, Musk unveiled the prototype of the autonomous robo-taxi, the 'Cybercap,' and set a goal to begin mass production in 2026 with annual sales of 2 million units. Currently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation limits the number of autonomous vehicles that authorized companies can deploy to 2,500 per year.
Potential candidates for the next Secretary of Transportation include entrepreneur Emil Michael, a former Uber executive; Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and Congressman Garrett Graves. Notably, Michael, one of the closest associates of Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, is also an investor in SpaceX and is known to have a personal relationship with Musk. A source said that Musk has expressed that he is a fan of Michael.
Local media anticipate that Musk will exert influence over the selection of the next Secretary of Transportation. Musk, who has rapidly risen as a close ally of President-elect Trump, is reported to have stayed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after the election, accompanying him to various events including UFC matches. Recently, he publicly endorsed Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as the next Secretary of the Treasury.
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