Keyless Ignitions and the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Straight Talks: Autonomous regulations around the world
Straight Talks: Innovations in product liability for autonomous and connected vehicles
Introduction - Fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) do not yet exist, and similarly, federal statutes and regulations to oversee AVs, also do not exist. What has resulted is a plethora of state statutes attempting to oversee AVs,...more
The use of electric vehicles (EVs) and micromobility devices (EMDs), e.g., electric scooters, electric bikes, and hoverboards, is on the rise and the accompanying potential risks of EVs and EMDs have become a new area of...more
Although the federal government implemented some new regulations on autonomous vehicles (AVs) in 2023, states remain the predominant source of new regulations affecting AVs. In fact, 25 states and the District of Columbia...more
The autonomous vehicle (AV) segment stands to revolutionize the personal mobility paradigm by reducing the number of on-road fatalities through increased machine learning and operational control of vehicles by computer...more
Last August (2022) the UK Government published its vision for “Connected and Automated Mobility” (also referred to as “CAM”), billing it as "an extraordinary opportunity…to drive forward this unfolding mobility revolution,...more
Established companies are working to succeed in the current market while also preparing for a future that is very different from the business that characterized past decades. The challenges are profound in maintaining...more
The Final Rule maintains the occupant protection performance required by the 200-Series FMVSS. It alters FMVSS definitions to accommodate emerging ADS technology and clarifies for manufacturers the application of particular...more
This report helps automotive suppliers inform their legal and operational decisions to help address challenges and opportunities. Key Developments - U.S. new light vehicle sales in September fell to an estimated SAAR of...more
Trade Secrets in the HAV Industry Trade secrets are invaluable in the HAV industry as its growth accelerates in the fast lane. HAV players defend their technology aggressively against competitors and departing employees who...more
On June 29, 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") issued Standing General Order 2021-01 (the "Order"), concerning safety-related incidents involving vehicles operating on publicly accessible roads...more
The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that a form of self-driving technology could be lawful on UK roads for the first time by the end of 2021. The technology enables drivers to hand over control of the...more
The race to deal with the existential threat of climate change by making millions of vehicles smarter, more efficient, and environmentally friendly may be on a collision course with safety concerns....more
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on the development of a framework to govern the safety of automated driving systems (ADS). NHTSA...more
Taking a break from reporting on COVID-19 legal developments, we turn for a moment to what is happening now on export control of autonomous vehicle technology. The autonomous vehicle R&D sector is booming, largely in the...more
The Situation: In an effort to regulate the development and implementation of autonomous vehicles, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce met to discuss a federal regulatory framework. The Result: The House has started...more
For the first time, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grants petition for temporary exemption for an electric vehicle with an automated driving system – the Nuro R2X. ...more
The concept of commercial autonomous vehicles, also referred to as AVs, is not new. Indeed, ships and aircraft have been equipped with some level of autonomous operation for decades. But only recent technological advances...more
Tom Brewer, CEO/President of Intelligent Mobility Planning, LLC and long-time expert in automotive matters in Tennessee, offers the below thoughts on the status of vehicle testing. Baker Donelson has been fortunate to work on...more
Recent events in Washington, D.C., suggest that we may see developments this fall with regard to autonomous vehicles (AV) policy. A letter from key congressional committees seeking comments on AV issues and other developments...more
Autonomous vehicle (AV) legislation has been active at the federal and state levels. Congress recently revisited federal autonomous vehicle legislation, after last year’s stalled efforts....more
A challenge confronting the acceptance and deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is validating the safety of a vehicle operated not by a human, but rather by an automated driving system (ADS). Currently, auto manufacturers...more
A year after the first pedestrian was killed in a collision with an autonomous vehicle, an Arizona county attorney has determined that the company operating and testing the vehicle in autonomous mode is not criminally liable....more
Last week, the EasyMile electric autonomous shuttle debuted on the roads in Denver, Colorado, marking the first autonomous vehicle venture in the state....more
NHTSA just published the third iteration of its policy/guidance for automated vehicles. The focus of the guidance continues to evolve. In its initial form, the most significant focus of the guidance was on the safe...more
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released an update to the agency's policy document on autonomous vehicles. The document, Automated Vehicles 3.0: Preparing for the Future of Transportation (AV 3.0), is a...more