The electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla, led by Elon Musk, has expressed its opposition to a federal mandate that necessitates the reporting of automobile accidents. Additionally, the transition team for Trump has shown similar resistance, as reported by Reuters on Friday.
It remains uncertain if the Trump administration will follow the recommendation made by the transition team, which contended that the regulation implies the collection of “excessive” data, according to a document reviewed by the outlet.
Musk was appointed by Trump to assist in overseeing an initiative aimed at enhancing government “efficiency,” and has committed to reducing federal personnel, budgets, and regulations.
According to a Reuters examination of statistics, Tesla vehicles were involved in 40 out of 45 fatal incidents reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) up until October 15. The company has faced legal action related to its autopilot and “full self-driving” technologies, in addition to a probe by the Department of Justice.
As per Reuters, Tesla leadership anticipated an advantageous position under a presidential administration that aligned with their views on the crash reporting requirement. In contrast, the Biden administration does not share this perspective. Musk invested over $250 million in efforts to support Trump’s election.
Sources familiar with the executives’ mindset, as the report further explained, revealed that the company perceives the requirement as unjust because Tesla asserts it excels in crash data reporting compared to its rivals, and the resulting discrepancies in reported figures cast them in a negative light.
Apart from Tesla, there are other entities opposing the regulation, including the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents a coalition of competing car and truck manufacturers.
