State of the AV Industry in 2025: Progress, Promise and the Path Forward
COMMENTARY
The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association recently released our second annual “State of AV” report. The message is clear: autonomous vehicles are no longer just a promise of the future, they are a reality on American roads today.
From Phoenix to Pittsburgh and Dallas to Detroit, AVs are safely moving people and goods with zero human input at the wheel. Our member companies have logged over 145 million autonomous miles in the United States, more than doubling the number of recorded miles since we last announced the number in April 2024. That is equivalent to the average distance between Earth and Mars or nearly 6,000 trips around Earth.
Robotaxis are giving visually impaired veterans their independence back. Driverless trucks are hauling commercial freight in Texas and New Mexico. And they are doing it all without driving drowsy, distracted or impaired, unlike human drivers responsible for the vast majority of the 41,000 traffic deaths in the United States last year.
This momentum is no accident. It is the result of years of American innovation, private investment and bipartisan support at the state level. But the continued growth of this lifesaving, job-creating and supply chain-strengthening technology is not guaranteed.
What AVs need now is national leadership.
State governments have led the way in recent years. In places like Texas, Arizona and Florida, forward-looking policies have enabled safe AV testing and deployment, drawing billions in investment and creating jobs for diverse skill sets. But only the federal government can harmonize vehicle design standards and ensure consistent safety oversight. Without a clear federal policy framework, we risk a patchwork of state rules that slow progress, confuse the public and cede leadership to global competitors.
That’s why earlier this year AVIA released “Securing American Leadership in Autonomous Vehicles,” a policy blueprint calling for five key federal actions to advance autonomous vehicle innovation in the United States and ensure we remain the global leader in this pivotal industry.
These are not abstract proposals, they’re what industry leaders say is necessary to successfully scale AV technology responsibly. In a survey of AVIA CEOs for this industry report, 94% said the most consequential step the federal government could take is enacting a federal framework for AV deployment.
To their credit, many in Washington are listening.
Just last month, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy took an encouraging step by announcing plans to establish a federal framework for AVs, recognizing the need for national consistency to support innovation, public safety and America’s leadership in this technology. Meanwhile, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have recently touted the benefits of AVs and have called for legislation that supports innovation at a time when China and other countries are making significant strides.
The United States can — and must — lead the world in safely deploying AVs. That means acting now to deliver safer streets, more equitable mobility and a modern supply chain that works for everyone.
The 2025 “State of AV” report shows what’s possible for our future. Now it’s time for policymakers to help us deliver it.
Jeff Farrah is the CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, which represents the country’s leading developers of autonomous vehicles and autonomous driving software. AVIA can be found on LinkedIn.
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