According to Sawyer Merritt, during a recent U.S. House Committee hearing, industry representatives emphasized that current caps on the number of autonomous vehicles and the duration of regulatory exemptions are hindering the adoption of advanced AI-powered safety technologies in autonomous vehicles. These limitations make the program nearly unusable for companies developing AI-driven self-driving solutions, impacting the pace of innovation and market deployment (source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, Jan 13, 2026). This creates significant challenges for AI companies aiming to commercialize autonomous vehicle technology, and highlights the need for updated policies to unlock growth opportunities in the AI mobility sector.

According to Sawyer Merritt, a U.S. House Committee will hold a hearing on January 13th to review bills aimed at significantly expanding autonomous vehicle deployment without human controls. The draft proposals include raising the annual cap for such vehicles from 2,500 to 90,000 units, preempting state regulations on autonomous driving systems, and mandating the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set calibration guidelines for advanced driver assistance systems. These measures are designed to address automaker concerns about regulatory barriers, particularly those impacting robotaxi deployment and market entry. If enacted, these changes could accelerate business opportunities for AI-driven mobility and reshape the U.S. autonomous vehicle market by fostering a more uniform regulatory environment and unlocking large-scale commercial applications. (Source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter)