Amazon’s Zoox robotaxi venture has received an exemption from federal vehicle safety standards, allowing it to use its current fleet of driverless cars for demonstration purposes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also closed the probe it began in 2022 to investigate how Zoox self-certified its robotaxis to meet federal safety standards.
Zoox, a driverless taxi venture owned by Amazon, has been given the green light by the NHTSA to deploy its steering wheel-less electric pods for demonstrations. The federal agency granted an exemption to federal vehicle safety standards and concluded its probe into Zoox’s self-certification process for its driverless cars, which lack pedals and a steering wheel.
Zoox had applied for the exemption in June, and the NHTSA has now approved it. The agency found that Zoox had self-certified its vehicles in 2022 but raised concerns about their compliance with certain Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The NHTSA’s inspection report during the probe revealed multiple noncompliances with applicable FMVSS.
In response to the exemption, the NHTSA instructed Zoox to remove any statements claiming compliance with federal safety standards from its vehicles. The exemption covers all Zoox vehicles that were part of the NHTSA’s investigation, excluding certain 2023 model year cars that have been retired. A total of 64 vehicles currently operating on public roads fall under the exemption.
While the exemption allows Zoox to continue testing its driverless pods, it does not permit commercial operation. The company has been conducting tests near its headquarters in Foster City, California, as well as in Las Vegas and San Francisco. Zoox recently opened its first dedicated robotaxi factory in Hayward, California, with plans to produce up to 10,000 driverless cabs per year.
The NHTSA’s decision to grant the exemption follows an update to its policy allowing U.S.-made autonomous vehicles to qualify for exemptions. The agency also plans to streamline the review process for exemptions, enabling more domestic autonomous vehicle companies to deploy their cars on the road.
Overall, the exemption granted to Zoox signifies a step forward in the development and testing of autonomous vehicles, paving the way for increased innovation and progress in the field of self-driving technology.