The Department of Transportation has announced significant changes to autonomous vehicle crash reporting requirements that will particularly benefit Tesla, reducing the transparency around incidents involving driver assistance systems like Autopilot and Full Self-Driving.
New Framework Reduces Reporting Requirements
The Trump administration has revised the Biden-era standing general order (SGO) that required automakers to report crashes involving autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. While the administration has decided to keep the rule in place, they've made key modifications that significantly reduce what needs to be reported. Under the new framework, crashes involving Level 2 driver assistance systems—like Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving—will only need to be reported if they result in fatalities, hospitalizations, airbag deployments, or strikes on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians or cyclists. Previously, companies had to report all crashes involving these systems if they required vehicle towing or had airbag deployments, even without fatalities.
Key changes to autonomous vehicle reporting requirements:
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Level 2 systems (like Tesla Autopilot) now only report crashes involving:
- Fatalities
- Hospitalizations
- Airbag deployments
- Strikes on vulnerable road users (pedestrians/cyclists)
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Previous requirements included reporting crashes requiring vehicle towing
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Tesla has reported over 1,500 crashes under the original rule
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Tesla accounted for 40 out of 45 fatal crashes reported under the SGO
Tesla Stands to Benefit Most
Industry experts point out that Tesla stands to gain the most from these changes. According to Reuters, Tesla has reported over 1,500 crashes to the federal government since the original rule was implemented, with the company accounting for 40 out of 45 fatal crashes reported under the SGO. Sam Abuelsamid, VP for market research at Telemetry, noted that This has a huge impact on one particular company, Tesla, because Autopilot and [Full Self-Driving] are only L2 systems, not automated driving systems. The revised rules will eliminate reporting requirements for many Tesla crashes that don't involve fatalities or vulnerable road users.
Reduced Transparency Raises Concerns
Safety advocates have expressed concern that these changes will significantly reduce public access to information about the performance and safety of autonomous vehicle technologies. William Wallace from Consumer Reports described the modification as a big carve-out that closes the door on a huge number of additional reports. The changes move counter to what his organization has advocated for—federal rules that combat what they see as significant incident underreporting among advanced vehicle tech manufacturers. Noah Goodall, an independent researcher studying autonomous vehicles, noted that the changes may make it harder for outsiders to identify patterns in self-driving vehicles' mistakes.
Expanded Exemption Program for Domestic Vehicles
In addition to modifying crash reporting requirements, the Department of Transportation has expanded the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP) to include domestically produced vehicles. Previously only available for imported vehicles, this program allows manufacturers to test self-driving technology in vehicles that don't meet all federal safety standards. This change could benefit Tesla's development of its upcoming Cybercab, a steering wheel-free robotaxi that would require exemptions from certain safety standards.
Political Context of the Decision
The timing and nature of these changes have raised questions about political influence. Elon Musk was one of Donald Trump's most vocal supporters during the campaign, reportedly spending at least $277 million of his own money to back Trump's candidacy. Reuters had previously reported that Tesla despises the standing general order, with Musk concluding that a change in administration would be necessary to modify it. Musk now runs the Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration, with the goal of cutting government spending and regulations.
Administration Frames Changes as Pro-Innovation
USDOT officials are positioning these modifications as steps to enable faster development of autonomous vehicle technology with less regulatory burden. Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the new framework aims to slash red tape and move us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety. In a video message, Duffy emphasized that America is in the middle of an innovation race with China, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Industry groups have welcomed the changes, with the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association calling it a bold and necessary step in developing a federal policy framework for autonomous vehicles.