Auto industry exec, lawmakers stress China risk in revived AV policy debate

The hearing on Wednesday focused on separate draft legislation from Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, and Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich.

In an interview Tuesday, Dingell told Automotive News it was her goal to pass AV legislation this year, and the hearing was a step toward finding common ground.

“What we really want to do is we want to know what stakeholders like, what they don’t like, what’s missing and what should be struck,” she said. “We need to move this forward. Quite frankly, we are behind.”

Both draft bills, though different, would establish a national standard that allows for the widespread testing and deployment of AVs and addresses certain safety and security risks among other outstanding issues. Both, too, would raise the volume cap on exemptions that can be granted to manufacturers of vehicles that do not have traditional controls like steering wheels or brake pedals. The current cap of 2,500 vehicles would be increased up to 100,000 under Latta’s bill, while Dingell’s version would increase it up to 80,000.

Latta’s bill — the previously introduced Self Drive Act — also would block certain manufacturers from being granted an exemption if they share information with, or are controlled by, China.

Earlier this month, Reps. Dingell and Latta and two other lawmakers urged the Biden administration to investigate and limit the operation of AVs made by Chinese companies in the U.S., citing concerns of national security and competitiveness.

At the hearing, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers raised concerns over China’s AV advancements and risks to U.S. leadership.

“China’s ambitions in this industry present a critical economic and national security threat to our country, especially when you consider seven Chinese … car companies testing on our roads today,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.