Duffy Proposes Raising AV Exemptions Over 2,500 as Waymo-Zeekr Ojai Debuts
At the Autonomous Vehicle Safety Forum, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged prioritization of US-made self-driving technology and regulatory changes to raise annual safety-exemption limits beyond 2,500 vehicles. Alphabet’s Waymo has partnered with Geely’s Zeekr to build and deploy the “Ojai” robotaxi in the US.
1. Duffy Advocates US AV Technology Primacy
At the Autonomous Vehicle Safety Forum, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized prioritizing US-developed self-driving systems as national security and economic imperatives, criticizing potential foreign competitors and questioning legacy rules requiring steering wheels, gas pedals and limiting annual safety exemptions to 2,500 vehicles.
2. Waymo-Zeekr Collaboration on 'Ojai' Robotaxi
Alphabet’s Waymo has launched a partnership with Geely Automobile’s Zeekr to engineer and deploy the “Ojai” Level 4 robotaxi in US markets; initial tests are slated for major metropolitan areas this year, aiming for commercial service upon regulatory approval.
3. Regulatory Overhaul Proposals
Lawmakers and regulators are considering legislation to raise the annual safety-exemption cap from 2,500 to as many as 90,000 vehicles and to revise vehicle equipment mandates to remove steering wheels, gas and brake pedals, which proponents say will lower costs and accelerate mass deployment of autonomous fleets.