Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association Unveils Federal Policy Framework to Advance Safe Deployment of AVs

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) announced its comprehensive federal policy framework, “Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles.” The recommendations for policymakers emphasize the urgent need for federal action to secure the United States’ position as a global leader in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology while ensuring safety, fostering innovation, and promoting economic resilience.

In a statement announcing the framework, AVIA CEO Jeff Farrah said, “The U.S. remains at the forefront of AV innovation, with AVs already improving road safety, supply chain efficiency, and accessibility nationwide. However, federal action is needed to ensure American leadership on this path-breaking technology. Federal inaction in recent years has occurred against a backdrop of enhanced global competition on AVs, particularly from China, as well as a wave of state action on AV policy. Policymakers must act decisively to ensure that AV technology continues to thrive and deliver benefits across safety, mobility, and economic growth.”

AVIA’s framework builds upon the Department of Transportation’s Framework for Automated Driving System Safety, first introduced in 2020 and prioritizes:

AV Safety, Transparency, and Accountability

• Establishing a National AV Safety Data Repository for incident reporting and transparency.

• Commencing rulemaking on a core set of Autonomous Driving System (ADS) competency tests and require that commercially deployed ADS manufacturers develop a safety case.

Advancing American Leadership on AVs

• Modernizing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) by NHTSA clarifying, through interpretation and/or regulatory changes, that requirements for manually operated driving controls are not applicable to Level 4 and 5 ADS-equipped vehicles.

• Encouraging federal legislation on, cybersecurity, privacy, and accessibility initiatives.

Supporting Supply Chain Resiliency Through Autonomous Trucking

• Support for America’s supply chain with federal policy on autonomous trucking, including codification of previous Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 2018 interpretation that a human driver need not be present in a commercial motor vehicle operated by a Level 4 or 5 ADS

• FMCSA action to allow use of cab-mounted warning beacons on autonomous trucks to support road safety and innovation.

Supporting Safety Regulators with Enhanced Resources

• Increasing funding for the Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to ensure expert regulators have the resources they need on AV policy.

Protecting National Security While Promoting AV Leadership

• Bolstering domestic manufacturing of critical AV hardware, such as sensors.

Read the full recommendations here.

What the AV Industry is Saying:

Chris Urmson, CEO, Aurora Innovation: "Autonomous vehicles are among our most powerful tools for improving U.S. road safety and securing our supply chain. We are excited about AVIA's fresh approach to federal principles, which prioritize modern transportation safety technology, like innovative warning devices, to benefit everyone on the road."

Gautam Narang, Co-founder and CEO, Gatik: "Gatik strongly supports a federal regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles that promotes innovation, commercialization and upholds rigorous safety standards. A federal framework will enhance supply chains, improve road safety, create a wealth of new employment opportunities and ensure the US retains its global leadership position in the autonomous vehicle sector, benefiting businesses and communities across the country."

Don Burnette, founder and CEO, Kodiak: “AVIA’s federal policy recommendations represent a critical step forward for the AV industry as we work with policymakers to create a clear and consistent national policy framework for autonomous vehicles. This framework will help ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of autonomous vehicle innovation and deployment, improving the safety of our roads, improving the efficiency of our supply chains, and enhancing our national security.”

Dave Ferguson, President, Nuro: “By establishing practical safety metrics for autonomous vehicles and assuring the supply of critical components—as recommended in AVIA’s federal framework—this Administration and Congress have the opportunity to strengthen American innovation and competitiveness while making our roads safer for everyone.”

Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO, Torc: “AVIA’s federal policy framework provides a roadmap for what policies are needed to support AV commercialization while prioritizing safety, transparency and accountability.” 

Katrin Lohmann, President, Volkswagen ADMT: “We’re passionately working to transform the way the world moves and to bring autonomous driving to reality. By making the all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz the foundation of our AV testing in the U.S., our vision is to improve access to modern, sustainable, and flexible mobility that ultimately benefits those in the communities we serve. Volkswagen ADMT supports the ongoing efforts led by AVIA to articulate and champion specific federal regulatory policies that are needed to ensure we can advance at the speed of trust and achieve our ambitious goals.”

Mauricio Peña, Chief Safety Officer, Waymo: “Waymo strongly supports AVIA’s comprehensive proposal of modern, commonsense federal rules that would bring uniformity, efficiency, and additional safety to the deployment of autonomous vehicles. If implemented, AVIA’s recommended framework would ensure all Americans can safely experience fully autonomous transportation, and cement U.S. leadership in the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles.”

About the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA):  

AVIA works with lawmakers, regulators, and the public to realize the safety and societal benefits of autonomous vehicles. As the unified voice of the AV industry, the association is comprised of companies with diverse technical expertise and experience in the technology, automobile, ridehail, trucking, and logistics sectors — all contributing to more than 70 million autonomous miles driven on U.S. public roads, equivalent to 293 round trips to the moon. Bringing together their varied backgrounds, the companies formed AVIA to advance AVs’ tremendous safety, mobility and economic benefits to consumers in the safest and swiftest manner possible.