EV/AV Report: Automakers reportedly resist electric vehicle transition; while NHTSA opens investigation into Waymo’s self-driving vehicles
Toronto, Ontario — In this weekly electric and autonomous vehicle report, a study from InfluenceMap notes that 15 automakers, except Tesla, have actively advocated against at least one policy promoting electric vehicles (EVs); meanwhile the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation against Waymo’s self-driving vehicles.
An electric resistance
A New InfluenceMap analysis found that when looking at 15 of the largest global automakers, all, except Tesla, have at some point actively advocated against at least one policy promoting EVs.
Of all 15 automakers studied, Toyota scored lowest—receiving a D on a letter score from A to F—having driven opposition to climate regulations promoting EVs in multiple regions, including the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Comparatively, Tesla—which scored a B—was found by the study to have positive climate advocacy aligned with science-based policies. Following this, Ford came in second place with a C score.
The study further outlined how only three of the 15 companies—Tesla, Mercedes-Benz and BMW—are forecasted to produce enough EVs by 2030 to meet the International Energy Agency’s updated 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway of 66 percent global EV sales.
Moreover, of the automakers studied, InfluenceMap’s report also found that Japanese automakers are overall, the least prepared for an EV transition. When looking at the EV forecasting, Suzuki came in at 10 percent preparedness, Honda at 24 percent, Toyota at 29 percent and Mazda at 30 percent.
Wayward Waymo
On May 13th, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Waymo for “unexpected automated driving system behaviour causing single-party crashes and potential traffic safety law violations.”
According to the report, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received reports of 22 incidents involving Waymo vehicles equipped with the company’s fifth-generation automated driving system.
In these reports, the ADS-equipped vehicle was the sole vehicle operated during a collision or, the ADS-equipped vehicle was described as performing driving behaviour that violated traffic safety laws.
Notably, reports included descriptions of collisions with stationary and semi-stationary objects such as gates and chains, collisions with parked vehicles and instances in which the ADS disobeyed traffic safety controls.
The NHTSA’s investigation thus intends to help determine the capability of Waymo’s vehicles in detecting and responding to traffic control devices and in avoiding collisions with roadside objects.
