Amazon’s Zoox is set to begin charging for paid robotaxi rides in Las Vegas next week, after receiving a federal regulatory green light. Multiple outlets report that the approval comes as a temporary exemption from U.S. federal safety requirements, allowing Zoox to operate a commercial service using its purpose-built vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is described as granting the exemption that permits Zoox to charge customers, making it the first U.S. company cleared to do so with a steering-wheel- and pedal-free robotaxi design. Outlets focus on different details: some emphasize that the vehicles lack manual controls, while others highlight the operational terms. CNBC reports the exemption allows Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years, under “enhanced, adaptable” oversight conditions. Safety advocates cited by Fortune argue that the data supporting the approval is limited, while other coverage frames the step as a milestone for the driverless-car industry.
