Peters Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Accelerate Testing and Deployment of Automotive Safety Technologies

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) introduced bipartisan legislation to accelerate the testing and safe deployment of innovative vehicle technologies on our roadways. The Vehicle Safety Equipment Testing Act, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), would update existing law to give vehicle suppliers the same testing authorities currently held by automakers, allowing them to independently test their technologies in controlled environments.

"Vehicle suppliers in Michigan are working to develop some of the most advanced vehicle components and technologies available today. Unfortunately, existing law is delaying the testing needed to get these innovative systems in our cars and on the road," said Senator Peters. "This commonsense bill would allow suppliers to conduct testing on the products they make, helping to speed up the deployment of new technologies that have the potential to drastically improve roadway safety."

Automotive suppliers manufacture key components that are integrated into automobiles, such as braking systems, emissions controls, and powertrain components. Legislation passed in 2015 requires these suppliers to partner with domestic automakers to test new vehicle systems, which often leads to delays in the verification process. To expedite the deployment of technologies that can improve vehicle and roadway safety, Peters' Vehicle Safety Equipment Testing Act would expand this federal testing authority to vehicle suppliers, providing them the same independent testing and validation process currently used by automakers.

This legislation is supported by the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the National Consumers League.

"Suppliers drive much of the innovation that makes vehicles safer, more efficient, and more reliable. Yet under current federal law, many suppliers are unable to independently test the technologies they develop in real-world environments, slowing innovation and delaying the deployment of safety-enhancing advancements. We applaud Senators Peters and Fischer for their leadership in introducing this legislation. By establishing testing parity, Congress will help accelerate the development and validation of next-generation vehicle technologies," said Paul McCarthy, President and CEO of the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).

"Advances in automobile safety require more than prudent policy, they require innovation," said Daniel Greene, Senior Director of Consumer Protection & Product Safety at the National Consumers League. "This legislation creates a nationwide proving ground, helping usher in the next era of safety technologies that can reduce the unacceptable injuries and death resulting from automobile crashes on our nation's roadways. The National Consumers League applauds Senators Peters and Fischer for their leadership on this important issue."

Throughout his time in the Senate, Peters has consistently fought to support Michigan's automotive sector and advocated for responsible adoption of innovative vehicle technologies. During a hearing on autonomous vehicles earlier this year, Peters emphasized the need for the upcoming surface transportation bill to include policies to guide the safe deployment of AVs on our roads to ensure American innovators pave the way on autonomous technologies.

Leveraging his role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Peters has consistently fought to advance provisions in funding legislation to help accelerate the safe development of cutting-edge vehicle technology. This includes $13.9 million secured in recent funding legislation for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Automation Safety and $3.5 million for NHTSA's Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS) Program, which focuses on collaboration between automakers and federal agencies to share data on, and improve the performance of, advanced driver assistance systems. In 2025, he also introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow NHTSA to expand its research of emerging driver assistance systems, helping to improve roadway safety for Americans.

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