Amazon's Zoox wins federal clearance to deploy paid robotaxis without steering wheels

NHTSA granted Zoox a temporary exemption allowing up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years, clearing the way for commercial service in Las Vegas

Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without steering wheels or eventually even brake pedals as the rules start to catch up to the evolving technology.

The temporary exemption from federal safety standards will let Amazon’s Zoox launch a real, paid robotaxi service in Las Vegas.

Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without steering wheels or eventually even brake pedals

Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without steering wheels or eventually even brake pedals

Some robotaxis approved to operate without steering wheels and losing the brake pedal could be next  AP News

Zoox's vehicle has been designed specifically for autonomous travel rather than being adapted from an existing passenger car.

The exemption allows Zoox to operate up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years, subject to "enhanced, adaptable" oversight conditions.

Zoox just got permission to charge for robotaxi rides in its boxy, steering-wheel-less vehicles. On Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it has granted the Amazon-owned Zoox a temporary exemption, allowing it to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually over the next two years, as reported