Musk returns to Tesla to push for a national framework

Elon Musk is ramping up efforts to persuade U.S. lawmakers to pave the way for autonomous vehicles, an area of focus for Tesla as it prepares to debut its own driverless rideshare service. 

According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, Musk and his top aides have been personally reaching out to members of Congress in recent weeks to advocate for legislation that would allow the broader deployment of self-driving cars on American roads.

Sources familiar with the matter say that Musk and top aides have been personally reaching out to members of Congress in recent weeks to advocate for legislation that would allow the large-scale deployment of self-driving cars on American roads.

These conversations come as lawmakers review a bill designed to prescribe standards for autonomous vehicles, introduced earlier this month by Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and considering new proposals before the July 4 congressional recess.

Musk returns to Tesla to push for a national framework

At the heart of Musk’s push is Tesla’s plan to launch a rideshare service in Austin on June 12, using a fleet of Model Y SUVs. Tesla eventually plans to replace those vehicles with its purpose-built Cybercab, which is projected to reach volume production for the ride-share service.

However, federal law currently only allows automakers to deploy 2,500 vehicles per year without traditional driver controls under a limited exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s a ceiling Musk wants to raise or eliminate entirely.

“It’d be wonderful for the United States to have a national set of rules for autonomous driving instead of 50 state-specific standards,” Musk told U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a May visit to Tesla’s headquarters.

The Lummis bill aims to restart momentum on a policy debate that has stalled for years. A previous bill backed by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) passed the House in 2017 but never made it to a Senate vote.

Now, with Tesla, Waymo, Zoox, and others pushing harder than ever, there’s growing pressure to update federal rules.

Rep. Latta is also working on an updated version of his earlier legislation, with sources suggesting it may be reintroduced in the House within weeks.

After years of juggling multiple ventures and, most recently, heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in President Trump’s second administration, Musk has signaled a more concentrated focus on Tesla, particularly its AI and robotics initiatives.

Autonomy is central to that vision, and Musk has described Tesla’s ride-sharing ambitions as a future growth engine — one that could dwarf traditional car sales.

White House open to federal rules but not making promises

The Trump administration has shown openness to developing federal standards for AVs but has stopped short of committing to any specific framework.

“The administration’s policy is driven by one thing and one thing only: achieving the president’s agenda and his commitment to the American people,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields in a statement.

A White House official familiar with the discussions added that Tesla “has to make business decisions in its own best interest” and added that the President will continue to pursue and create infrastructure that strengthens America’s energy dominance.

For now, Tesla’s ridesharing launch in Texas will benefit from the state’s relatively relaxed AV regulations, which treat self-driving vehicles much like conventional cars, provided they carry insurance, obey traffic laws, and use sensors or cameras.

However, in other states, varying rules or complete legal ambiguity could prevent expansion.

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