Ford Motor said it would open a new plant in Michigan that could become ineligible for federal incentives under a policy bill championed by President Trump and passed by the House.
The vehicles will have safety monitors and may not operate in bad weather, making them more restricted than the fully autonomous vehicles promised by Elon Musk.
The 7-to-2 decision stressed that it did not address the merits of the dispute, and concerned only whether the producers had standing to sue.
Plus, a fast-food gimmick turns 20.
Automakers and car buyers are taking a second, harder look at hybrids after leaving them behind for electric vehicles.
Mr. Musk says the driverless taxis could begin ferrying passengers on Sunday in Austin, Texas, where other companies already have similar cars on the road.
BYD and other companies doubled their share of the car market after the European Union imposed higher tariffs on electric vehicles from China.
A Senate tax package softens some blows imposed on renewables by a House version of the bill. But it still terminates many credits for clean power.
Battery companies are slowing construction or reconsidering big investments in the United States because of tariffs on China and the proposed rollback of tax credits.
California leaders said the state intends to challenge the move in court, and to find new ways to move drivers toward electric vehicles.