President Donald Trump has nominated Jonathan Morrison, an Apple executive and former chief counsel of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to lead the agency, Reuters is reporting.
Morrison’s career is marked by notable positions in both the automotive and technology industries. During President Trump’s first term, he served as NHTSA’s chief counsel, where he was involved in regulatory oversight and legal affairs concerning vehicle safety standards.
Following his tenure at NHTSA, Morrison joined Apple in May 2021, as indicated by his LinkedIn profile. While specific details of his role at Apple remain undisclosed, it is speculated that he contributed to policy matters related to Apple’s autonomous vehicle initiatives.
The NHTSA is currently conducting several investigations into Tesla’s driver assistance technologies, including a probe into approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. This action followed reports of multiple collisions, including a fatal incident in 2023, where vehicles reportedly failed to navigate challenging conditions such as sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.
The NHTSA is also examining Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” feature, which allows users to remotely move their vehicles using a smartphone app.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk maintains a close advisory relationship with President Trump and has been an advocate for reducing federal regulatory oversight. Musk has previously criticized various NHTSA actions, suggesting that certain regulations impede innovation.
Morrison’s nomination to lead the NHTSA occurs at a critical juncture, as the agency navigates complex investigations into advanced driver assistance technologies and faces scrutiny over its regulatory approaches
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. Want to keep this site truly independent? Support us by buying us a beer, treating us to a coffee, or shopping through Amazon here. Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent Canadian media!
Let the lunacy and clown show continue.
When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.