Zoox clears final federal hurdle to launch paid robotaxi service

Zoox received a temporary federal exemption from NHTSA that removes one of the final regulatory barriers to launching a paid robotaxi service. The approval allows Amazon-owned Zoox to charge riders in its custom-built autonomous vehicles, which lack steering wheels and pedals, under limited conditions. The exemption covers eight federal motor vehicle safety standards and caps Zoox’s commercial fleet at 2,500 vehicles annually for two years. The decision is a meaningful step for the autonomous vehicle sector because it signals regulators are creating a clearer path for limited commercial deployment of non-traditional AVs. NHTSA also said it is updating the broader exemption process and working with SAE on a $5 million consortium to help build national AV safety standards, suggesting more supportive policy infrastructure ahead for the industry.