For those unaware, the NHTSA limits the number of these autonomous rides on the road for various reasons, including safety. In March, GM wanted to deploy en masse the Cruise Origin, a self-driving taxi without steering wheels, side mirrors, etc. Previously, lawmakers were understandably hesitant to give the American car maker the go-ahead for its self-driving taxi, but the upcoming AV STEP ruling might finally allow for that.
There is, however, a considerable catch regarding this new regulatory path of self-driving cars. Specifically, the safety-focused government agency wants car companies to share data in return for widespread self-driving car deployments.
The latter will enable the agency to strengthen its knowledge base regarding these highly advanced mobility technologies. These data might even be useful for the government in making laws in the future. We won’t be surprised that some companies might protest that data-sharing clause.