New Jersey Bill S1677 Proposes Radar and LiDAR Mandate for Robo-taxis, Threatening Tesla's Vision-only Strategy

New Jersey lawmakers recently advanced bill S1677 requiring autonomous vehicles intended for commercial robotaxi service to be equipped with cameras, radar, and LiDAR sensors. The legislation, initiated by State Senator Andrew Zwicker, directly challenges Tesla's long-held Vision-only approach, which excludes radar and LiDAR technology.

The bill establishes a 3-year pilot program requiring operators to complete at least 50,000 miles of supervised testing within the state before removing safety drivers. It also mandates retention of traditional steering wheels and pedals—a major compliance hurdle for Tesla's Cybercab, currently in production without these controls. If passed by New Jersey and neighboring New York state, the Northeast corridor would effectively block Vision-only robotaxis from commercial operation.