Two US House reps are working to boost self-driving vehicle research and production. US Reps Robert Latta and Debie Dingell will introduce the Congressional Autonomous Vehicles Caucus to help educate fellow lawmakers on self-driving technology. As reps from automotive states, the pair believe it is vital to keep the US competitive in the self-driving market.
Biden will sign a $52b chip industry subsidization plan today. The bill will provide semiconductor manufacturing and research funds, including $24b in tax credits for chip plants. Advocates of the bill see it as a way to protest the US economy, supply chain, and national security. Ahead of the signing, GlobalFoundries, Applied Materials, Ford, and GM leaders met with lawmakers to discuss possible funding applications.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation which represents several major automakers, says the recent extension of the EV tax credit program will exclude many existing EVs. The bill imposes restrictions on using Chinese-made materials by phasing in a required percentage of North American battery components. Right away, the program applies only to vehicles assembled in North America. The restriction jeopardizes the group's goal of reaching 40-50% EV sales by 2030.