Tesla AI Lobbying: How Much They Spend and What They Want
Quarterly Federal Lobbying Breakdown
| Year | Quarter | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Q1 | $480K |
| 2024 | Q2 | $520K |
| 2024 | Q3 | $550K |
| 2024 | Q4 | $580K |
| 2025 | Q1 | $650K |
| 2025 | Q2 | $700K |
| 2025 | Q3 | $780K |
| 2025 | Q4 | $860K |
| 2026 | Q1 | $950K |
Key Bills Lobbied On
- 1SELF DRIVE Act (autonomous vehicle regulation)
- 2AV START Act (autonomous vehicle deployment)
- 3NHTSA autonomous vehicle safety standards
- 4S. 2714 (SAFE Innovation Framework Act)
Public Position on AI Regulation
Advocates for accelerated autonomous vehicle deployment and opposes regulations that would slow FSD rollout. Supports federal preemption of state autonomous driving laws. Favors performance-based safety standards rather than prescriptive design mandates. Benefits from Elon Musk's political relationships for regulatory influence.
Key Lobbyists
Campaign Contributions
Total: $20K across 4 recipients
Focus Areas
Notable Actions
- →Deployed Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to hundreds of thousands of vehicles, largest real-world AV test fleet
- →Lobbied NHTSA for performance-based rather than prescriptive autonomous vehicle safety standards
- →Announced Optimus humanoid robot program, opening new AI regulation fronts
- →Leveraged Elon Musk's political access through DOGE role for favorable regulatory treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has Tesla spent on AI lobbying?
Tesla has spent a total of $3.0M on federal AI lobbying. The most recent quarterly filing was for $950K in Q1 2026.
What AI bills has Tesla lobbied on?
Tesla has lobbied on 4 AI-related bills, including SELF DRIVE Act (autonomous vehicle regulation), AV START Act (autonomous vehicle deployment), NHTSA autonomous vehicle safety standards, and more.
What is Tesla's position on AI regulation?
Advocates for accelerated autonomous vehicle deployment and opposes regulations that would slow FSD rollout. Supports federal preemption of state autonomous driving laws. Favors performance-based safety standards rather than prescriptive design mandates. Benefits from Elon Musk's political relationships for regulatory influence.
Who are Tesla's key AI lobbyists?
Tesla employs 3 known lobbying firms and individuals for AI policy, including Mercury Public Affairs, BGR Government Affairs, Squire Patton Boggs.
How does Tesla's lobbying compare to other AI companies?
Tesla has an influence score of 5/100, with a total political footprint of $3.0M across lobbying, PAC spending, and campaign contributions.