According to Bloomberg, insiders have revealed that members of the team of the next US President Donald Trump have informed the advisory team that they plan to make the development of a federal legal framework for fully autonomous vehicles a top priority for the US Department of Transportation.

　　If the new regulations in the United States allow cars to operate without human control, it will directly benefit Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has bet on Tesla's future on autonomous driving technology and artificial intelligence.

　　The current federal government regulations in the United States have set numerous obstacles for companies planning to deploy vehicles without steering wheels or pedals on a large scale, such as Tesla. Insiders say that the Trump team is seeking policy leadership for the US Department of Transportation to develop a legal framework for regulating autonomous vehicles.

　　Although the U.S. Department of Transportation can issue rules to simplify the operation of autonomous vehicles through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a bill of the U.S. Congress will clear the obstacles for the wide application of autonomous vehicle. Two people familiar with the matter said that a legislative measure surrounding autonomous vehicle was in the early stages of discussion.

　　According to informed sources, one of the candidates for the US Secretary of Transportation is Emil Michael, a former executive of Uber Technologies Inc. He has spoken with the Trump team and potential staff, but the work is still in its early stages and policy details have not yet been determined.

　　Regarding the above report, the Trump team has not yet responded to requests for comment.

　　In October of this year, Musk announced plans to mass produce Tesla autonomous taxis without driver supervision starting from 2026. The current US regulations have set significant obstacles for Musk's plan, including limits on the number of vehicles deployed.

　　Image source: Tesla

　　At Tesla's third quarter financial report conference call, Musk supported the development of U.S. federal regulations to regulate autonomous vehicle, and said he would use any position in the U.S. government to promote a process to allow the use of autonomous vehicles in the United States.

　　Trump subsequently appointed Musk to lead the newly established US government efficiency department, with the aim of "paving the way for the elimination of bureaucracy in the US government, reducing excess regulation and wasteful spending, and restructuring US federal agencies".

　　Previously, attempts to establish federal regulations to regulate autonomous vehicles in the United States have encountered setbacks. At present, NHTSA allows automobile manufacturers to deploy 2500 autonomous vehicle every year with exemption.