U.S. Congress will not vote for self-driving car bill this year

The U.S. Congress will not vote on a bill to speed the introduction of self-driving cars before it adjourns for the year, a blow to companies like General Motors Co and Alphabet Inc’s Waymo unit, key senators said on Wednesday.

Congress is also not going to take up a proposal pushed by General Motors and Tesla Inc to extend a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles, the aides stated.

Republican Senator John Thune, who chairs the Commerce Committee, and Senator Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, led the fight to win approval for over a year and pledged Wednesday to try again next year.

Thune stated it is a concern if Congress does not act in next year. “The technology is going to keep going,” Thune stated. “We’ll start this up again.”