Accountability Desk

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Transition team urged scrapping a crash-reporting rule that Tesla opposed

The rule requires automakers to report crashes involving driver-assist and self-driving systems. Tesla accounted for most of the reported crashes.

Dec. 13, 2024  |  Summary by Accountability Desk, based on the reporting credited below

Reuters obtained a Trump transition document recommending that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration drop its 2021 order requiring automakers to report crashes involving automated-driving and driver-assistance systems. The recommendation came from a team drafting a 100-day automotive strategy.

Tesla had reported most of the crashes under the rule. A Reuters analysis found Tesla accounted for 40 of the 45 fatal crashes reported through Oct. 15, 2024. Two former NHTSA employees said the data was central to investigations that led to Tesla's 2023 recalls. Elon Musk had spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars helping elect Trump.

The receipts

Original reporting. Credit belongs to these outlets and authors; read the full stories at the source.

  1. Reuters (via Yahoo News) by Jarrett Renshaw, Rachael Levy and Chris Kirkham

    Trump transition recommends scrapping car-crash reporting requirement opposed by Tesla
  2. NPR byline on original

    Tesla may face less accountability for crashes under Trump

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