NHTSA plans to ‘modernize’ safety standards for autonomous vehicles; Lucid, Uber close deal to deploy 20,000 robotaxis

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) plans to launch three rulemakings to modernize Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for vehicles with automated driving systems.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy says the standards were written decades ago and fail to account for automated vehicles.

“America must lead the way in transportation innovation,” he said in a Sept. 4 press release. “If we don’t, our adversaries will fill the void. The rules of the road need to be updated to fit the realities of the 21st century. Our changes will eliminate redundant requirements and bring us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety.”

The following will be amended, each pertaining to standards for vehicles with automated driving systems and no manual controls:

• • FMVSS No. 102, “Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect;”
  • FMVSS No. 103, “Windshield defrosting and defogging systems”
  • FMVSS No. 104, “Windshield wiping and washing systems;” and
  • FMVSS No. 108, “Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.”

“Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were written for vehicles with human drivers and need to be updated for autonomous vehicles,” said NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser, in the release. “Removing these requirements will reduce costs and enhance safety. NHTSA is committed to supporting the safe development of advanced technologies and advancing a new era of transportation.”

NHTSA says the changes will deliver on its Automated Vehicle Framework, which is part of Duffy’s innovation agenda.

According to the release, the framework “will unleash American ingenuity, maintain key safety standards, and prevent a harmful patchwork of state laws and regulations” under three principles: prioritizing the safety of ongoing AV operations on public roads, unleashing innovation by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers, and enabling commercial deployment of AVs to enhance safety and mobility for the American public.

In June, Duffy and NHTSA announced plans to streamline the Part 555 exemption process as part of the AV Framework. The exemption will continue to allow manufacturers to sell up to 2,500 motor vehicles per year that do not fully comply with FMVSS.

Another development in the autonomous vehicles was announced last week with the closing of a $300 million investment in Lucid by Uber Technologies to launch a new robotaxi service next year in a major U.S. city. The launch city hasn’t been announced yet.

The strategic investment was made as part of a next-generation premium global robotaxi program announced in July, according to a press release.

The robotaxis will use Lucid’s electric vehicle technology platform and operate exclusively on Uber’s ride-hailing platform. The vehicles will be built at Lucid’s manufacturing facility in Arizona.

The new funding supports the partnership between the two companies and contributes to development costs associated with the autonomous robotaxi initiative, the release says.

“The new robotaxi service combines the industry-leading software-defined vehicle architecture of the Lucid Gravity, the scalability and proven capability of the Nuro Driver Level 4 autonomy system, and Uber’s vast global network and dynamic fleet management, delivering a fully integrated robotaxi experience developed for comfort, safety, and scale,” the release says.

Uber aims to deploy 20,000 or more Lucid vehicles through the program over six years.

“Lucid’s innovations and technologies are second to none, and Uber’s investment is just the latest example of a third-party validating our highly advanced technical platform,” said Marc Winterhoff, Lucid’s interim CEO, in the release. “We look forward to further strengthening our close working partnership with Uber in the years to come, and continuing to explore new markets, opportunities and partners that can best leverage Lucid’s leading technology.”

Meanwhile, Waymo, Google’s autonomous rideshare service, recently announced plans to expand into Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Miami, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Dallas, Texas; and New York City. It currently operates in Phoenix, Arizona; the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, California; Austin, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia.

“Operating in five-plus major U.S. cities and testing across the country and Tokyo has strengthened our system, creating a robust and adaptable Waymo Driver that can expand to new cities,” a Waymo blog post states. “The data shows that the Waymo Driver is making roads safer. With over 10 million fully autonomous trips served, riders across the country tell us how our service is helping them move through their communities with greater convenience and independence. As we arrive in new cities, we’ll continue engaging closely with regulators, policy makers, and communities to bring the safety, accessibility, and economic benefits of the Waymo Driver to more people.”

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