Instead, the organization wants the US to take a gradual, nuanced approach where it tackles short- and long-term issues as they come up. The rules should account for different levels of automation, the group notes -- assistant features like Tesla's Autopilot (where you still need to pay attention) aren't the same as fully hands-off experiences. There are also concerns about having enough time to ensure that privacy and safety get their due. All told, automakers are hoping to avoid guidelines that are either too onerous or lead to a rash of accidents that make manufacturers look bad.

How closely the NHTSA listens is another matter. It contends that there should be some kind of rulemaking in the near future, since semi-autonomous vehicles (like Tesla's) are already on the road. It's harder to impose changes on cars that already exist, after all. While the administration is likely to take some of Global Automakers' advice into account, it may decide that an imperfect but timely rulebook is better than nothing.