Department of Transportation Announces a Streamlined Regulatory Exemption Process for Autonomous Vehicles
On June 13, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced changes to the process for exempting autonomous vehicle companies from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) under 49 C.F.R. Part 555. Part 555 offers an important route for the sale and deployment of innovative autonomous vehicles. The recent announcement evidences a desire to speed up agency decisions on Part 555 exemptions, though the application process will continue to be a substantial undertaking.
NHTSA Announces New Policies to Promote Autonomous Vehicles
On April 24, 2025, the Department of Transportation announced the new Automated Vehicle (AV) Framework from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The announcement, which was accompanied by a video from the Secretary of Transportation, included two new policy developments. First, NHTSA released a Third Amended version of its Standing General Order on Automated Driving Systems (ADS) and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Second, NHTSA announced that it would expand its exemption program for autonomous vehicles that do not fully comply with NHTSA’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. This update discusses both developments and their broader implications.