Federal Regulators Grant Zoox Exemption for Robotaxi Demos, Close Probe
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted Zoox, an Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company, an exemption to demonstrate its custom-built robotaxis on public roads. This decision also marks the closure of a related investigation into whether Zoox had circumvented federal regulations.
Announced on Wednesday, this move resolves a long-standing question regarding the compliance of Zoox’s uniquely designed autonomous vehicles with federal motor vehicle safety standards. These standards typically mandate features such as steering wheels and pedals. Zoox had previously asserted compliance and stated its self-certification in July 2022, a claim that prompted NHTSA to open an investigation in March 2023 to scrutinize the process and data used for this self-certification.
Despite the investigation, Zoox continued its development and testing. In early 2023, the company commenced testing its custom-built robotaxis, which notably lack traditional controls like steering wheels, on public roads near its Foster City, California headquarters. Zoox has since broadened its testing operations to include cities like Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Zoox is not yet operating a commercial service. However, in San Francisco, it has begun offering rides to employees and their guests. Earlier this year, the company launched its Zoox Explorer program in Las Vegas, targeting early public riders.
The current exemption specifically permits Zoox to demonstrate its robotaxis, not to commence commercial operations.
NHTSA’s announcement aligns with its recently proposed national framework, intended to facilitate the large-scale deployment of autonomous vehicles that may not feature traditional manual driving controls. This framework aims to simplify the process for companies seeking to introduce such innovative vehicles.
The framework, officially known as AV STEP (ADS-Equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency and Evaluation Program), provides NHTSA with a mechanism to approve the sale and commercialization of autonomous vehicles that deviate from standard federal safety requirements due to the absence of manual controls. This initiative is seen as a significant step towards enabling the wider adoption of autonomous mobility.
This revised process includes an expedited application system, enabling companies like Zoox to secure exemptions for both testing and demonstrations, and eventually for commercial services. A Zoox spokesperson confirmed that the company is working collaboratively with NHTSA, beginning with the demonstration exemption and progressing towards commercial approval.
As part of the agreement with NHTSA, the agency has concluded its investigation into Zoox’s self-certification methods. Zoox has committed to removing or obscuring any claims of its purpose-built vehicles complying with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, ensuring transparency in its regulatory interactions.
