With Tesla electric car sales slowing, CEO Elon Musk is now focusing on a future in which Tesla cars drive themselves as robotaxis.
Musk hopes that, with Donald Trump as president-elect, he can influence regulations to facilitate Tesla’s launch of these self-driving vehicles. Right now, Tesla faces a complex set of rules that vary from country to country, which Musk described as “incredibly painful.”
He aims to push for a single federal approval system covering all states, and Trump has offered Musk a role as “efficiency chief” to help streamline government operations.
This week, Trump appointed Musk to a new nongovernmental body focused on government efficiency. Musk, who backed Trump’s campaign with $119 million, is also expected to advise on key government appointments, including the head of the Department of Transportation, which regulates auto safety and self-driving technology.
However, Tesla is still behind in self-driving tests. In California, Tesla has logged just 562 miles of autonomous driving since 2016, while competitors like Waymo have completed more than 13 million miles. Tesla’s “full self-driving” system still requires a human driver, so Musk’s vision for automated vehicles faces significant challenges in terms of technology, insurance and legal liability.
Musk’s push for federal rules would support Tesla’s approach to selling self-driving cars directly to consumers. Other companies, such as Waymo and GM’s Cruise, are focusing on limited robo-taxi services in specific areas using high-tech sensors.
If Musk succeeds in securing federal rules, Tesla could bypass strict state regulations, making it easier to launch robotaxis across the United States. However, full self-driving brings legal risks, as Tesla will be held liable if accidents occur without a human driver.