Amazon's Zoox gets federal nod for paid driverless robotaxi rides
Zoox, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Amazon, received a temporary exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday. This clearance allows Zoox to charge customers for rides in its custom-built robotaxis, which lack steering wheels and pedals. The exemption marks a significant step toward commercial deployment of fully autonomous vehicles in the U.S.
Key facts
- Zoox is owned by Amazon.
- The exemption was granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The exemption is temporary.
- Zoox can now charge customers for rides.
- The robotaxis are custom-built and lack steering wheels.
- The announcement was made on Thursday.
- This is a federal clearance for paid robotaxi operations.
- The exemption clears the way for commercial deployment.
Entities
Institutions
- Amazon
- Zoox
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Locations
- United States
Sources
- Quartz —