The Trump administration is making significant changes to federal safety regulations in a bid to enhance US leadership in autonomous vehicles and stay ahead of Chinese competition. This move will enable companies such as Tesla to apply for exemptions to conduct testing. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the importance of this decision by stating, “We’re in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.” He further explained that the new framework aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and bring the country closer to a unified national standard for autonomous vehicles. This development signifies a strategic effort to promote innovation and technological advancement in the automotive industry.