Accessibility, Jobs and U.S. Competitiveness Loom Large in AV Hearing
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Summary
Senators used the hearing to spotlight wheelchair access, workforce transitions and concerns about competition with China; witnesses described manufacturing investments, difficulty finding OEM platforms for accessible robotaxis, and industry commitments to work with labor and accessibility partners.
Accessibility and jobs framed a significant portion of the committee's questioning as senators probed how AV deployment will affect people with disabilities, manufacturing jobs and global competition.
Senator Duckworth emphasized that AVs must expand independent mobility for people with disabilities and asked whether Tesla or Waymo offer wheelchair accessible vehicles straight from the factory. Lars Moravi said Tesla has held conversations with conversion companies and is committed to making future products accessible, but added that certain regulatory constraints limit factory-built accessibility today. Mauricio Pena said Waymo offers wheelchair-accessible options but has not yet found an OEM that meets the company's safety requirements for a fully autonomous wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Several senators also focused on jobs and competitiveness. Senator Young and others warned about the strategic competition with China and urged legislation that preserves American leadership. Tesla told senators it has invested more than $2,000,000,000 in a Texas purpose-built AV production line that the company said would operate initially at 1,200 jobs per shift and could ramp to 5,000 jobs when fully scaled. Industry witnesses said AV deployment will create new, high-skilled manufacturing and operations jobs, while also acknowledging the need to work with labor to manage transitions in driver employment.
Senators signaled interest in balancing access, domestic manufacturing and workforce supports as they consider AV policy language.