‘Race with China to out-innovate’: Trump administration eases safety rules for Tesla and other automakers

The Trump administration is easing federal safety regulations to bolster US autonomous vehicle leadership against Chinese competition, allowing companies like Tesla to seek exemptions for testing. ​​”We’re in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn’t be higher,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a statement, justifying the move. “Our new framework will slash red tape and move us closer to a single national standard,” he added.