WASHINGTON, Feb 4 - Lawmakers together with executives from Waymo and Tesla will press Congress to take action on legislation intended to speed the rollout of self-driving vehicles, highlighting a perceived strategic risk from China. The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is convening a hearing Wednesday focused on measures to promote deployment of robotaxis, with testimony scheduled from Waymo, Tesla and other stakeholders. The proposed legislation has been under consideration for roughly a decade.
Democratic Senator Gary Peters warned ahead of the hearing that if the United States fails to lead in autonomous vehicle development, other countries - particularly China - could determine the technology, standards, and global market. Peters added that China could become the dominant manufacturer of transportation in the 21st century.
Waymo, which operates as a unit of Alphabet, will also urge lawmakers to pass legislation to advance self-driving vehicles. In testimony seen by Reuters, Waymo states that U.S. leadership in the autonomous vehicle sector is under direct threat. The company characterizes the situation as a global race with Chinese autonomous vehicle companies for control of the future of autonomous driving, calling the market a trillion-dollar industry with strategic importance comparable to flight and space travel.
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The hearing and the renewed calls for legislation come as participants emphasize both the economic scale of the autonomous vehicle market and the strategic implications of which nation sets technical standards and captures manufacturing scale. The debate centers on how federal policy can accelerate deployment while positioning the U.S. industry to remain globally competitive.