TechCrunch Mobility: Blue-green is the color of autonomy

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed new lighting requirements for autonomous vehicles that could signal their autonomous operation to the public. While the agency is not mandating cyan-colored lights, the proposal includes an option for blue-green lights to be used when autonomous vehicles (AVs) operate without a human occupant monitoring the road.

The proposed lights would be steadily illuminated, visible from all directions, and mounted at specific locations on the vehicle. This move seeks to establish a uniform way of identifying autonomous vehicles, as federal regulators work on updating regulations to speed up the adoption of AVs while maintaining safety. The proposal also removes requirements for manually operated controls for turn signals, high beams, and hazard lights.

Meanwhile, GM is overhauling its vehicles' electrical and computational systems to enable faster software, more capable automated driving features, and a conversational AI assistant for its OnStar service. The company plans to roll out these changes in its 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ and an autonomous highway driving feature, allowing drivers to have their hands and eyes off the road.