The average new car price in the US has surpassed $50,000, with electric vehicles and luxury features driving up costs. The government is now questioning costly safety mandates, citing concerns over their effectiveness compared to basic safety measures.
A Senate committee will investigate the impact of advanced safety systems on car prices, hearing from automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Tesla. However, safety advocates argue that regulation is key to ensuring widespread adoption of effective technology.
Studies estimate that advanced driver-assist systems could prevent 37 million crashes, 14 million injuries, and 250,000 deaths by 2050. While some question the need for these features, others believe they are essential to reducing road accidents.
As lawmakers weigh the balance between affordability and safety, it remains to be seen whether costly mandates will be scaled back or maintained. The hearing is set to take place on January 14, 2026, with the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation questioning the value of these advanced systems.
Source: https://www.autoblog.com/news/senate-summons-detroits-big-three-over-50k-new-cars