TechCrunch Mobility: NHTSA proposes cyan lights for autonomous cars

U.S. federal safety regulators continue to address the regulatory challenges of autonomous vehicles, introducing a new proposal aimed at visually signaling when a vehicle is operating entirely autonomously without human intervention monitoring the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has suggested new equipment specifications that include an option for cyan-colored lights to indicate active autonomous operation. Under the proposal, these lights should remain steadily illuminated without flashing and must be visible from the front, rear, and both sides of the vehicle.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

The regulatory framework outlines specific mounting locations, emitted colors, and activation methods while also removing traditional requirements for manually operated controls such as turn signals and high beams. These outdated standards were never designed for modern autonomous pods like the Tesla Cybercab and Zoox robotaxi, which lack steering wheels, pedals, and standard mirrors.

Meanwhile, legacy automaker General Motors outlined its future roadmap during the annual GM Forward event, detailing plans to overhaul the electronic and computational architecture of its upcoming vehicles. This technological shift will debut in 2028 with the Cadillac Escalade IQ, alongside an advanced highway driving feature allowing drivers to completely disengage from driving tasks.