Report: Tesla Could Get a Big Benefit From a Regulation-Killing Trump Administration

Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Elon Musk’s investment in Donald Trump’s candidacy for president could eventually pay off in a big way for Musk. Reuters recently reported that Trump’s transition team wants to kill a rule that requires automakers to report crash data from automated vehicle trials, a move that could significantly benefit Tesla.

Reuters reported on a document that outlines the transition team’s plans, which include a recommendation that the administration repeal the requirement around car-crash reporting. Tesla has reported most of the crashes under the requirement, to the tune of more than 1,500. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has open investigations into the automaker, including some related to its crash-data reporting.

Among other things, the NHTSA uses autonomous vehicle crash data to guide recall decisions. The agency has handed out fines to companies not following the rules, such as the $1.5 million fine it gave to GM’s Cruise division for its failure in reporting a 2023 crash that involved a pedestrian.

It’s important to point out that Reuters was unable to piece together Musk’s role in the document’s creation if there was any. So, while it’s awfully suspicious, the recommendation could have come at the request of another person or group, such as the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an auto trade group that has said the rules are burdensome.

[Images: Tesla]

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