With pending legislation that would create a pilot program aimed at monitoring and encouraging autonomous vehicle testing, Texas is looking to be in the fast lane for the future of driverless cars. But Google and several major car manufacturers are asking state lawmakers to pump the breaks. As KUT's reporting partner the Texas Tribune reports, the technology giant and The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 12 automobile manufacturers including General Motors and Ford, have come out against a bill from state Senator Rodney Ellis.

Dan Gage, a spokesman for the Automobile Alliance, said the group was concerned that the bill might create state-specific standards related to safety or manufacturing that could slow development of the technology. But Senator Ellis says the future he wants to prepare Texas for is closer than some suspect. 

A Google representative at last week’s committee hearing on the bill registered as opposed to the measure — and then declined to testify as to why. 


Anthony Green 94