The Mobility Perspective

The Road to Autonomous Mobility with Ariel Wolf

Self-driving cars are here. So the real question is whether policy, infrastructure, and industry strategy are moving fast enough to keep up. Ariel Wolf [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielswolf/], Partner at Venable LLP [https://www.venable.com/], joins The Mobility Perspective to discuss the current state of autonomous vehicles and why 2026 is a crucial year for commercialization. He explains the gap between advancing technology and outdated regulations, the importance of federal transportation reauthorization, and what’s needed to scale robotaxis and trucking. Ariel also emphasizes that autonomous vehicles are not just ca tech story, but a matter of transportation policy, safety, and business. Key takeaways: * Autonomous vehicles are leaving the testing phase behind, and 2026 could be the year the industry starts to scale in a real way. * Policy will set the pace, with federal transportation regulation playing a major role in what happens next for mobility. * This goes far beyond the technology itself. It is a transportation story shaped by safety, infrastructure, and industry leadership. Episode highlights: (00:00) Meet Ariel Wolf (01:28) Where autonomous technology stands today (03:21) Why policy is lagging and why 2026 matters (04:09) What the surface transportation bill means for mobility (05:54) Where car rental fits in the future of mobility (09:44) The safety case for autonomous vehicles (15:43) Cybersecurity, supply chains, and national risk (21:13) EV politics, China, and the bigger mobility race (24:09) The push for a federal autonomous vehicle framework (27:18) What it takes to remove the human driver (30:57) How negligence and product claims still apply (38:25) Why safety remains the strongest case for AVs Resources: Ariel Wolf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielswolf/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielswolf/]  Explore Venable LLP: https://www.venable.com/ [https://www.venable.com/]  Don Lefeve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-lefeve/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-lefeve/]  Sharky Laguana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharkylaguana/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharkylaguana/]  Explore American Car Rental Association: https://www.acradrivesamerica.org/ [https://www.acradrivesamerica.org/]

Introducing The Mobility Perspective

Buckle up, because we’re diving into the untold stories of the mobility world.  From monitoring the policies influencing how we move to tracking down stolen cars, we’re bringing you inside the busy, high-stakes world of transportation - including everything from autonomous vehicles and micro-mobility to public transportation and air travel. Brought to you by the American Car Rental Association, each episode tackles the big issues driving the future of mobility: autonomous vehicles, data rights, new business models, and the laws that could flip the industry on its head.  With jaw-dropping stories, bold opinions, and no holds barred, we’re here to challenge the status quo and get you thinking about the future of how we move, whether by car, bike, plane, or train, and why it matters to everyone.