GM, Toyota call for easing of U.S. rules limiting autonomous cars

General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. officials will tell a U.S. House panel that need changes to automotive safety rules to allow the deployment of self-driving cars on American roads. Mike Abelson, vice president of global strategy at GM, said that without changes to those regulations, it may be years before the promise of today’s technology can be realized and thousands of preventable deaths that could have been avoided will happen.

On Monday, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Senator John Thune, the Republican chairman of the Commerce Committee, said in a joint statement they are exploring legislation that “clears hurdles and advances innovation in self-driving vehicle technology” and hope to propose a joint bill this year. Under current law, the Transportation Department can exempt up to 2,500 vehicles in a 12-month period from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration vehicle rules. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said last month she is preparing legislation that would lift the existing cap. Read more