<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">Here is a google Gemini summary of the recent National Autonomous Vehicle Safety Event at U.S. Dept of Transportation headquarters.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-40" style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-63" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">On March 11, 2026, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison hosted the </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-63" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">National AV Safety Forum</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-63 gmail-citation-end-63" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Headquarters in Washington, D.C.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span> <span class="gmail-citation-62 gmail-citation-end-62" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">This landmark event, described as the first-ever of its kind, served as a &quot;town hall&quot; for regulators, industry leaders, and safety advocates to discuss the future of autonomous vehicles (AVs).<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><button class="gmail-button gmail-multiple-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citations from Department of Transportation and Department of Transportation. Opens side panel." style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></button></div><p></p><h3 style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Comprehensive Summary of the Town Hall</b></h3><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-41" style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-61" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">The forum was centered on Secretary Duffy\u2019s vision of a </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-61" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">&quot;Golden Age of Transportation,&quot;</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-61 gmail-citation-end-61" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> emphasizing that the United States must out-innovate global competitors, particularly China, to ensure national security and economic leadership.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span> <span class="gmail-citation-60" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">The discussions revolved around three core pillars of the NHTSA\u2019s new </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-60" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Automated Vehicle Framework</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-60 gmail-citation-end-60" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">: prioritizing safety, unleashing innovation by removing red tape, and enabling commercial deployment.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><button class="gmail-button gmail-multiple-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citations from AUTO Connected Car News and Department of Transportation. Opens side panel." style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></button></div><p></p><p style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Key Announcements and Initiatives:</b></p><ul style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-42" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-59" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-59" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Zoox Robotaxi Petition:</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-59" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> Secretary Duffy announced that NHTSA is officially seeking public comment on a petition from Amazon-owned </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-59" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Zoox</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-59 gmail-citation-end-59" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> to deploy up to 2,500 purpose-built robotaxis that lack traditional manual controls like steering wheels and pedals.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><button class="gmail-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citation from AUTO Connected Car News. Opens side panel." style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span role="img" class="gmail-mat-icon gmail-notranslate gmail-symbol gmail-gds-icon-s gmail-google-symbols gmail-mat-ligature-font gmail-mat-icon-no-color gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-hidden="true" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></button></div><p></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-43" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-58" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-58" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Modernizing Safety Standards:</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-58" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> The DOT unveiled a &quot;first tranche&quot; of proposed amendments to the </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-58" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-58 gmail-citation-end-58" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span> <span class="gmail-citation-57 gmail-citation-end-57" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">These updates aim to remove requirements that assume a human driver is present\u2014such as standards for windshield wipers, defrosting systems, and transmission shift positions\u2014specifically for vehicles with no manual controls.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><button class="gmail-button gmail-multiple-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citations from AUTO Connected Car News and Transport Topics. Opens side panel." style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></button></div><p></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-44" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Updated Technical Guidance:</b><span class="gmail-citation-56 gmail-citation-end-56" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> For the first time since 2017, the NHTSA released updated technical guidance for AV developers.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span> <span class="gmail-citation-55 gmail-citation-end-55" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">This provides a modernized roadmap for safety assurance, cybersecurity, and data sharing.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><button class="gmail-button gmail-multiple-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citations from Department of Transportation and AUTO Connected Car News. Opens side panel." style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></button></div><p></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-45" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-54" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-54" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">National Framework vs. State Patchwork:</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-54" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> A major theme was the push for a </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-54" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">single national standard</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-54 gmail-citation-end-54" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span> <span class="gmail-citation-53" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Secretary Duffy and industry leaders (including CEOs from </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-53" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Waymo</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-53" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">, </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-53" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Zoox</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-53" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">, and </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-53" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Aurora</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-53 gmail-citation-end-53" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">) argued that a &quot;harmful patchwork&quot; of 50 different state laws is the greatest hurdle to scaling AV technology and that federal leadership is required to create a predictable environment for investment.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><button class="gmail-button gmail-multiple-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citations from AASHTO Journal and AUTO Connected Car News. Opens side panel." style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></button></div><p></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-46" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">American-Made Priority:</b><span class="gmail-citation-52" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> The administration emphasized a preference for domestically produced technology and announced the expansion of the </span><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-52" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP)</span></b><span class="gmail-citation-52 gmail-citation-end-52" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"> to include American-built vehicles, which was previously only available for certain imported models.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><button class="gmail-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citation from Department of Transportation. Opens side panel." style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span role="img" class="gmail-mat-icon gmail-notranslate gmail-symbol gmail-gds-icon-s gmail-google-symbols gmail-mat-ligature-font gmail-mat-icon-no-color gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-hidden="true" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"></span></button></div><p></p></li></ul><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-47" style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-51 gmail-citation-end-51" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">The forum also included a &quot;fireside chat&quot; with industry executives who discussed how autonomous technology can improve mobility for seniors and people with disabilities, while also addressing the rising fatality crisis on American roads by eliminating human errors like distracted or impaired driving.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span><span style="line-height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tps://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/transportation/nhtsa-seeks-comment-on-robotaxi-deployment-as-usdot-hosts-automated-vehicle-safety-forum/" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/transportation/nhtsa-seeks-comment-on-robotaxi-deployment-as-usdot-hosts-automated-vehicle-safety-forum/</a></span></span></p></li></ul><p style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbySrnkq65Y" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Sean Duffy unveils the &quot;Freedom 250&quot; car</a></span></span></p><p id="gmail-p-rc_a8d2fbe0a295841d-48" style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-citation-50 gmail-citation-end-50 gmail-interactive-span-hovered" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">This video shows Secretary Sean Duffy&#39;s live presentation in Washington, D.C., where he revealed the &quot;Freedom 250&quot; car and discussed its significance for the future of American transportation and innovation.<span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;font-size:16px"></sup></span></span></p></div><br></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>