Senate Republicans are calling for a meeting with U.S. auto leaders about safety features—arguing that some of the new vehicle mandates are unnecessary and driving up vehicle costs.
The details: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has scheduled a hearing for January 14, with chief executives from GM, Ford, Stellantis, and Tesla being summoned to discuss the concerns raised by the Senate, reports Automotive World.
Republican Senate members are taking direct aim at safety tech like automatic emergency braking and rear-seat child reminders, saying the features are unnecessary and increase the cost of a vehicle.
The average new vehicle price has increased to about $50,000, up from around $38,000 during COVID, prompting Republican Senators to say that the most effective safety advancements were from the 1960s to the 1980s.
California Governor Gavin Newsom—who has been critical of the Trump administration’s auto policies—condemned the Senate’s move, posting on X, “Republican priorities: Ensure it’s easier to get into a car accident. Great work.”
Why it matters: The Senate’s call for a hearing with auto executives and the clash over safety mandates highlights a growing divide between lawmakers, regulators, and automakers—and the influence that the Trump administration wields on the auto industry that it has no bones about using.
OUTSMART THE CAR MARKET IN 5 MINUTES A WEEK
Get insights trusted by 55,000+ car dealers. Free, fast, and built for automotive leaders.
Between the lines: The Senate’s hearing over the safety mandates comes as automakers try to navigate the costs associated with these features and consumer demand for more safety tech to stay competitive.
43% of potential new vehicle buyers desire hands-off semi-autonomous driving technology for highway use, per a 2025 study by AutoPacific.
43% of new vehicle intenders also expressed interest in rear automatic emergency braking, with demand for the common ADAS feature increasing 20% from 2024.
40% of potential new vehicle buyers indicated that they were interested in adaptive cruise control with active lane centering and stop and go.
What they’re saying: “2025 data show an increase in the percentage of new vehicle intenders overall who say they ‘trust advanced car safety systems that prevent accidents automatically,’ as well as those who agree with the statement, ‘I want my vehicle to be able to safety drive itself so I can do other things (read, watch movies, work, etc.),’” notes the AutoPacific report.
Bottom line: If automakers cut back on safety tech to save costs, dealers could face more confusion around feature content, tougher value conversations on $50,000 vehicles, and a bigger need to carefully order and position inventory so shoppers still feel they’re getting modern safety and driver-assist tech for the money.
A quick word from our partner
Reclaim Wrench Time with Pencilwrench
You don’t hire technicians to be writers. Yet their pay — and your reimbursement — depend on clear, accurate, OEM-specific repair stories. Pencilwrench by StoneEagle makes it simple:
Guided, point-and-click workflows
OEM-specific cause-and-correction phrasing
Warranty and “Problem Not Found” claims supported
Recall documentation that stands up to review
Save time, prevent denials, and keep revenue flowing.
