Trump's appointed head for auto safety vows swift changes in regulations
The automotive industry is bracing for a shift in federal regulations under the anticipated leadership of Jonathan Morrison, President Trump's nominee for administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If confirmed by the Senate, Morrison is expected to bring stricter and more proactive regulations to self-driving car technologies, including Tesla’s Autopilot system and autonomous vehicles.
As a former chief counsel for NHTSA during Trump’s first term, Morrison has a history of scrutinizing Tesla, particularly concerning the company's overstatements and marketing of its Autopilot feature as fully autonomous, potentially misleading consumers. This scrutiny may continue, as Morrison is likely to be directly involved in ongoing investigations into crashes involving Tesla’s autonomous driving systems if he is confirmed.
Morrison's proposed changes and positions include proactive regulation of autonomous driving technology to ensure safety without imposing excessive design restrictions or financial burdens. He also advocates for clear federal standards to prevent misuse of autonomous technology and to establish guidelines on manufacturer responsibility. Morrison's nomination comes amid a tense context where President Trump has warned Tesla CEO Elon Musk that his administration might target Tesla through regulatory and enforcement actions by NHTSA.
Beyond autonomous vehicle regulation, Morrison has expressed concerns about broader road safety, the need to address rising traffic fatalities, and competition from foreign technology. His nomination has been welcomed by industry groups who view him as knowledgeable about both regulation and technological innovation.
Current rules limit automakers to 2,500 test vehicles that don't meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. If confirmed, Morrison could lead several investigations into Tesla Inc.'s cars and driver assistance technologies, and may take over 73 federal probes into potentially defective cars and trucks that remain open after Trump took office in January. Prior Congressional proposals would have allowed carmakers to request as many as 100,000 of these exemptions.
Morrison currently works as a lawyer at Apple Inc. and previously served as NHTSA’s chief counsel under Trump’s first administration. The level of aggression towards auto regulation will ultimately depend on Trump, according to some experts, while others praise Morrison's knowledge and understanding of the auto industry and the NHTSA's mandate.
The White House and Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Morrison's nomination. The confirmation process is currently pending in the Senate.
Technology regulation will likely become more stringent under Morrison's leadership at NHTSA, positioning him to directly impact self-driving car technologies like Tesla’s Autopilot system and autonomous vehicles. Morrison advocates for clear federal standards to prevent misuse of autonomous technology and to establish guidelines on manufacturer responsibility, indicating a focus on technology safety without undue design restrictions or financial burdens.
