On June 19, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officially granted Zoox, Amazon's autonomous vehicle brand, permission to charge customers for its steering-wheel-free robotaxi service, following the unit's compliance with safety requirements. This marks the first time a self-driving vehicle without standard controls has been allowed to operate commercially in the US.
According to the decision, NHTSA granted Zoox an exemption from federal regulations that typically require vehicles to have manual controls such as a steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal. NHTSA Director Jonathan Morrison stated that Zoox's system now meets or exceeds safety requirements equivalent to conventional vehicles, but the rollout will be phased, and the vehicles will not be sold to the public immediately.
Under the permit, Zoox is allowed to commercialize up to 2,500 vehicles per year for two consecutive years. NHTSA also requires Zoox to enhance reporting of incidents such as collisions or vehicles stopping in incorrect positions on the road.
Zoox's robotaxi features a rectangular design resembling a small train car, with facing seats instead of forward-facing ones. The vehicle has no driver seat, pedals, or steering wheel, and can reach a top speed of 120 km/h. The company began offering free service in Las Vegas and San Francisco last year and will soon start charging fees, beginning in Las Vegas before expanding to other markets as state permits are finalized.
This decision is seen as a milestone for companies developing robotaxis with designs that differ from traditional automobiles. However, it has also raised concerns among traffic safety groups. They argue that loosening regulations could turn streets into testing grounds for technology, endangering pedestrians, especially after incidents where self-driving cars hit people or animals or stopped in the middle of the road, disrupting traffic.
Notably, in early July, NHTSA sent a letter requiring self-driving developers to focus on addressing situations where vehicles interfere with emergency responders. Following that, Zoox had to recall 105 vehicles for software updates because the system might not detect thick smoke in emergency scenarios. The advocacy group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety also expressed concerns, stating that Zoox has not provided detailed data proving the vehicles can operate safely on public roads.
Zoox, along with Tesla, is striving to catch up with Waymo, the leading robotaxi provider in the US. Waymo, owned by Alphabet, Google's parent company, uses electric Jaguar vehicles equipped with a steering wheel and pedals as a precaution for manual control if needed.
Zoox CEO Aicha Evans called the approval a significant milestone, reflecting a commitment to innovation while maintaining the highest safety standards. Amazon aims to produce about 10,000 robotaxis per year at a factory near Silicon Valley to compete directly with Waymo. Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.2 billion in 2020 and announced that over 500,000 passengers have experienced the service.
