NHTSA is developing a federal standard for autonomous driving performance to prepare for larger-scale U.S. robotaxi deployments, according to a September 18, 2026 post summarizing its announcement. The account says the agency is launching the ASCEND consortium with SAE, has proposed changes to five major federal vehicle safety standards, and is updating rules to accommodate vehicles without human drivers or traditional controls. It also describes guidance being developed to help the industry move from testing to “mid-scale driverless deployments,” alongside continued investigations, enforcement and recalls when autonomous vehicles pose unreasonable safety risks.