Zoox receives US approval for commercial driverless robotaxi

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) granted Amazon‑owned Zoox a temporary exemption that allows the company to operate a fully autonomous robotaxi without a steering wheel, pedals or other manual controls for commercial, paid service. The exemption permits up to 2,500 vehicles per year for two years and is part of a new regulatory pathway aimed at accelerating autonomous‑vehicle innovation. Zoox plans to launch its first paid rides in Las Vegas next month, after previously offering free trips there, and is seeking additional state permits to begin service in San Francisco. The Zoox vehicle is purpose‑built with two rows of seats and bidirectional movement, marking the first U.S. approval of a vehicle designed solely for driverless operation. The decision comes amid broader federal efforts to speed up autonomous‑vehicle deployment, contrasting with state‑level concerns following incidents involving Waymo robotaxis in San Francisco.