US Congress urged to revive long-stalled debate about regulating self-driving vehicles

Advocates for the self-driving vehicle industry on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, warned that years of regulatory inaction is putting American manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage and urged Congress to expand their ability to test and eventually sell autonomous cars and trucks. — AP Photo/Tony Avelar

WASHINGTON: Advocates for the self-driving vehicle industry on Wednesday warned that years of regulatory inaction is putting American manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage and urged Congress to expand their ability to test and eventually sell autonomous cars and trucks.

"I'm sure it's rare for you that someone from the private sector comes before you to ask, to plead, for their business to be regulated,” said John Bozzella, president for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents several major auto manufacturers. "We’re at a crossroads, and without a comprehensive AV framework, companies are not going to succeed."