The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted Amazon's Zoox unit federal approval for commercial robotaxi deployment.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted Amazon's Zoox unit federal approval to begin charging for commercial robotaxi rides, marking a first for purpose-built autonomous vehicles. The administration announced that Zoox can deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for the next two years, provided they meet enhanced oversight requirements. Jonathan Morrison, the NHTSA Administrator, stated that the vehicle's systems exceed the performance requirements of compliant vehicles, allowing for a waiver of traditional rules requiring human controls like steering wheels and brake pedals. This milestone allows Zoox to begin paid service in Las Vegas next month, followed by other markets as state requirements are met. While the agency is racing to update federal standards for automated driving, it remains focused on safety. Jonathan Morrison noted that the agency is working to develop the first federal safety standards for automated driving systems by the end of the Trump administration. The agency also issued a new letter to developers to ensure robotaxis do not interfere with law enforcement and first responders during active emergencies.