U.S. Department of Transportation - The Road to Autonomy

Trump, China & Autonomous Vehicles: Inside Look at U.S. Transportation Policy

Finch Fulton, Government Affairs and Public Policy Advisor, K&L Gates joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss autonomous vehicle policy under the Trump administration, China’s technological threat, and the path to establishing a national autonomous vehicle framework.

A national framework is essential to provide regulatory certainty for investors, unlocking billions in new investments while accelerating job creation and driving economic growth in the U.S.

As investors seek stability, China continues to expand its global technology exports. From ByteDance and TikTok to the recent launch of DeepSeek and the development of robotaxis, China’s aggressive export strategy raises concerns about its broader objectives.

To counter this, the U.S. must implement a national autonomous vehicle framework that enables the domestic scaling of autonomous vehicles and trucks. Without it, China will maintain its competitive edge and continue advancing its global export agenda.

Recorded on Friday, January 31, 2025

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Episode Chapters

  • 0:00 Trump’s Impact on Autonomy
  • 3:15 American Leadership on Autonomy
  • 5:58 Autonomy Czar
  • 7:13 China
  • 18:05 Tech Policy
  • 23:01 Autonomous Vehicle & Truck Policy
  • 37:40 Autonomous Vehicle & Truck Policy Outlook

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