Latest news with #AVIA
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Driverless-truck lobby urges federal action toward full autonomy
WASHINGTON — A truck industry lobbying group is urging the Trump administration to modify and streamline federal regulations to spark deployment of driverless trucks on the nation's highways. The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA), whose members include autonomous truck tech companies Aurora (NASDAQ: AUR), Kodiak and Plus, as well as FedEx (NYSE: FDX), told the U.S. Department of Transportation that making changes to the current regulations to remove hurdles to deploying driverless trucks will 'provide both regulatory certainty and greater operational flexibility' for autonomous vehicle (AV) developers. AVIA's recommendations were included in response to DOT's request for information on regulations that should be eliminated or modified. AVIA's recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration echo objectives outlined by Project 2025, the conservative policy playbook published by The Heritage Foundation in 2023. 'Both [DOT] operating administrations have issued Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemakings that begin the process of updating their regulations to reflect this new technology,' AVIA General Counsel Ariel Wolf stated in comments filed with DOT.'However, these regulations have stalled under the Biden administration, which has chosen to use the department's tools to get people to take transit and drive electric vehicles instead of helping people to choose the transportation options that suit them best. 'USDOT now has the opportunity to leverage its own previous work along with industry expertise to advance the American AV industry, eliminate or streamline outdated regulations, and ensure that the United States retains its international leadership and competitive advantage as this critical technology continues to grow and evolve.' In addition to codifying into law a 2018 FMCSA interpretation that states that its regulations do not require a human driver to operate or be present in an autonomous truck, AVIA recommends FMCSA update hours-of-service and inspection requirements that currently require action by a human driver. FMCSA should also reverse course on its stance on roadside warning devices, the group told DOT. Current regulations require that devices such as orange triangles and flares be placed by a human being in front of and behind a stopped truck, but the agency has denied AVIA-backed exemption requests to allow new cab-mounted beacons that do not require deployment by a human.'Modifying the existing regulations to allow for the use of cab-mounted beacons instead of driver placed devices not only allows [autonomous] CMVs to meet the warning device requirement, but also gives human drivers a safe alternative to exiting their vehicles on busy highways,' Wolf asserted in his comments. Wolf's group is also seeking modifications to the Federal Highway Administration's truck size restrictions. FHWA currently limits the width of a commercial vehicle to 102 inches, with some exceptions for rearview mirrors and other devices. AVIA wants the exceptions to be clarified 'to expressly include vehicle sensors such as lidar, radar, and cameras, to provide AV developers with added flexibility on the placement of their sensors, to allow for design flexibility and ensure sensors can be placed where they will best serve vehicle safety.' Aurora unveils safety blueprint ahead of driverless truck debut FMCSA to recruit truck drivers for autonomous vehicle study DOT lays out strategy for automated trucking Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post Driverless-truck lobby urges federal action toward full autonomy appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Prime Video Top International Execs Say Cinema Experience Remains ‘Magical' Alongside Streaming Push, at AVIA Conference: ‘We Believe in the Theatrical Window'
Despite the streaming revolution reshaping entertainment consumption worldwide, Prime Video's top international executives remain steadfast believers in the enduring power of theatrical exhibition. 'We understand that people are selective about what they choose to watch in the theatre, but we think that the opportunity to bring audiences together and have a theatrical experience is still pretty magical,' said Kelly Day, head of international and VP at Prime Video, during a fireside chat at AVIA's Future of Video India conference. 'We believe in the theatrical window.' More from Variety India's Screen Sector Booms to $61 Billion Economic Contribution, MPA Reports at WAVES Summit Netflix's Ted Sarandos Addresses 'Outdated' Movie Theater Model Comment, Highlights $2 Billion Economic Impact in India at WAVES Summit Prime Video Inks Major Deal With CJ ENM at India's WAVES Market to Expand Korean Content Globally Day's remarks came during her appearance alongside Gaurav Gandhi, VP for Asia Pacific and MENA at Prime Video, at the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai. They are in sharp contrast to Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos, who said, also at the WAVES conference: 'I assure you that nobody, except for distributors, are talking about windows.' The executive revealed plans for theatrical distribution while explaining Prime Video's dual-track strategy that bridges traditional cinema and streaming. 'We're going to continue to experiment to make sure that we not only maximize the opportunity around the films, but also make sure that we can deliver them to customers wherever they want to watch them. Our ambition is to produce around 14–15 titles a year for global theatrical distribution,' Day said. This balancing act reflects Prime Video's broader strategy of becoming a comprehensive entertainment destination. 'We think that it is unique. It starts with how we want to be the first place that people think of when they want to watch something,' Day explained, acknowledging that as a streaming service, they 'can't necessarily produce everything that hundreds of millions of customers all over the world might be in the mood to watch.' Gandhi highlighted the service's expansive entertainment hub proposition in India, which now includes '25+ partners already,' part of a growing network that includes 'hundreds of add-on subscription partners' globally, with markets like Japan featuring '70+ partners.' The executives pointed to innovation in India's rental market, with Gandhi noting, 'We are doing category creation for TVOD in India. We have 7000+ titles on the rental service, and we see around 60% of those rented every month. We see rentals coming from 95% of India's pin codes.' Day positioned Prime Video's global footprint as 'relatively unique,' operating in 'a little over 200 countries and territories' with 'just over 200 million Prime customers globally.' The service functions differently across regions, with Prime Video bundled with shipping benefits, music, and games in approximately 25 countries, while operating as a standalone streaming service elsewhere. India's significance to the streaming giant was repeatedly emphasized, with Gandhi declaring it 'a super important locale for Prime Video' that 'continues to be a big growth engine' for both acquiring new customers and engaging existing Prime members. Beyond its consumer importance, Gandhi highlighted India's role as 'a big content hub,' boasting 'one of the largest slates of original content outside of the U.S.' This content enjoys international appeal, with 'about 25% of our viewing actually comes from outside the country.' India also serves as 'a big innovation hub' for Prime Video's product development, Gandhi said, pioneering offerings like the mobile edition plan and multiple Prime membership tiers including Prime and Prime Lite. These innovations allow the service to segment customers based on needs before expanding successful concepts to other markets. Gandhi concluded by highlighting Prime Video's programming strategy across India's linguistic diversity: 'We program here in 10 languages. As a streaming service you want to segment your offerings and you want to offer customer the language of their choice, but you also want customers to experiment with other languages. That playbook is so unique for India that we are learning from India and following it wherever we have multiple languages.' Best of Variety Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rules on self-driving cars loosened in bid to challenge China
The Trump administration will allow self-driving cars an exemption from some safety rules for testing amid a push to compete with China, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday. U.S. developers of automated vehicles will now have access to an exemption program for 'non-commercial purposes that involve research or demonstration,' according to a letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Transportation Department also said it would 'streamline' crash reporting for vehicles equipped with autonomous systems. 'America is in the middle of an innovation race with China, and the stakes couldn't be higher,' Duffy said in a video posted to the social platform X. 'That's why we're unveiling a new automated vehicle framework as part of our DOT's Innovation Agenda.' 'The long-term goal is to move us closer to a single national standard,' he added. 'We don't want 50 states with 50 standards.' The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) touted the announcement as a 'bold and necessary step.' 'We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and his team to implement smart, forward-looking policies that will make our roads safer, expand mobility, strengthen supply chains, and drive American economic growth for generations to come,' AVIA CEO Jeff Farrah said in a statement. The move will likely be a boon for Elon Musk's Tesla, which has increasingly focused on self-driving vehicles. The company has long been expanding the self-driving capabilities available in its electric vehicles. However, it has more recently turned its attention toward fully autonomous robotaxis. Musk said on the firm's quarterly earnings call Tuesday it plans to begin offering paid robotaxi rides in Austin in June and in 'many other cities' across the U.S. by the end of the year. The earnings call marked a crucial moment for the company, as Musk sought to reassure investors that he would dedicate more time to Tesla after the firm reported a 71 percent drop in earnings. The Tesla CEO said Tuesday he would dial back his work in the Trump administration starting next month. Musk's work leading the Department of Government Efficiency has faced heavy scrutiny, weighing significantly on his EV firm over the past few months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Hill
Rules on self-driving cars loosened in bid to challenge China
The Trump administration will allow self-driving cars an exemption from some safety rules for testing amid a push to compete with China, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday. U.S. developers of automated vehicles will now have access to an exemption program for 'non-commercial purposes that involve research or demonstration,' according to a letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Transportation Department also said it would 'streamline' crash reporting for vehicles equipped with autonomous systems. 'America is in the middle of an innovation race with China, and the stakes couldn't be higher,' Duffy said in a video posted to X. 'That's why we're unveiling a new automated vehicle framework as part of our DOT's Innovation Agenda.' 'The long-term goal is to move us closer to a single national standard,' he added. 'We don't want 50 states with 50 standards.' The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) touted the announcement as a 'bold and necessary step.' 'We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and his team to implement smart, forward-looking policies that will make our roads safer, expand mobility, strengthen supply chains, and drive American economic growth for generations to come,' AVIA CEO Jeff Farrah said in a statement. The move will likely be a boon for Elon Musk's Tesla, which has increasingly focused on self-driving vehicles. The company has long been expanding the self-driving capabilities available in its electric vehicles. However, it has more recently turned its attention toward fully autonomous robotaxis. Musk said on the firm's quarterly earnings call Tuesday that they plan to begin offering paid robotaxi rides in Austin in June and in 'many other cities' across the U.S. by the end of the year. The earnings call marked a crucial moment for the company, as Musk sought to reassure investors that he would dedicate more time to Tesla after the firm reported a 71 percent drop in earnings. The Tesla CEO said Tuesday that he would dial back his work in the Trump administration starting next month. Musk's work leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has faced heavy scrutiny, weighing significantly on his EV firm over the past few months.
Epoch Times
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Epoch Times
Department of Transportation Eases Safety Regulations for Self-Driving Cars
The Department of Transportation (DOT) said on Thursday that it would ease some safety regulations for the development of self-driving vehicles in a move to maintain U.S. global dominance in the industry. The DOT stated that it would expand the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP)—which currently applies only to imported AVs—to include domestically-produced automated vehicles (AVs). The program will exempt U.S. automakers from safety regulations for AVs intended for research or demonstration purposes, 'This Administration understands that we're in a race with China to out-innovate, and the stakes couldn't be higher,' Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in a Duffy stated that the move is part of the DOT's innovation agenda to move the United States 'closer to a single national standard' that promotes innovation by removing barriers while also maintaining safety. To maintain safety, NHTSA said that it will continue requiring vehicles with certain advanced driver assistance and automated driving systems to report crash incidents, and streamline the reporting process to remove 'unnecessary and duplicative requirements.' Related Stories 2/7/2025 1/21/2025 NHTSA's chief counsel, Peter Simshauser, said the move would allow AV manufacturers to 'develop faster and spend less time on unnecessary process, while still advancing safety.' The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) said in a 'We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and his team to implement smart, forward-looking policies that will make our roads safer, expand mobility, strengthen supply chains, and drive American economic growth for generations to come,' AVIA CEO Jeff Farrah stated. John Bozzella, president and CEO of Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said that the new framework would help ensure that the United States will not 'cede AV leadership to China and other countries.' Bozzella added that the new framework for self-driving cars is 'overdue.' He said that the AV industry has been 'hamstrung by government inaction' in the past years. 'This technology works. It will help improve safety on the roads and increase mobility,' he said in a Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety voiced disappointment with the administration's move, emphasizing the need to enhance information on the safety of using self-driving cars on public roadways. 'The AV industry has been offering a myriad of promises, such as a reduction in crashes, more accessibility, less congestion and lower carbon emissions,' the agroup said in a 'However, troubling incidents have already occurred in the small number of cities in which they are currently deployed ... Without safeguards, safety regulations, transparency and accountability, the success of AV deployment is imperiled at best and could result in deadly consequences at worst.' The Epoch Times has reached out to the DOT for comment on the group's concerns but did not receive a response by publication time. In 2022, General Motors (GM) filed a petition with NHTSA seeking permission to deploy up to 2,500 self-driving vehicles annually without human controls such as brake pedals or mirrors. The automaker subsequently withdrew the petition last year after a lengthy government review had not been completed. In December 2024, GM Reuters contributed to this report.
