A special permit for a car without a steering wheel
Zoox, the robotaxi service owned by Amazon, can now start charging real money for rides — but only because it got a special pass from the U.S. government. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave Zoox a temporary exemption that allows it to operate up to 2,500 driverless cars annually over the next two years, skipping some of the usual rules about things like steering wheels and mirrors.
What’s missing, and what’s inside
Zoox’s cars are built for passengers, not drivers. There are no pedals or steering wheels — just two bench seats and sliding doors. Instead of meeting federal safety rules that expect a human behind the wheel, Zoox convinced the NHTSA its software is as safe — or safer — than a car with all the standard controls.
A race on the road
Zoox is now in the same race as Waymo and Tesla’s robotaxi services, both of which have been rolling out in U.S. cities. Zoox will charge for rides in Las Vegas next month and has plans to bring the service to Miami and Austin. The NHTSA’s exemption comes with conditions, including an 'enhanced, adaptable oversight structure that can evolve as [Zoox's] technology advances.' Zoox is now working with regulators in Nevada and California, where it's currently testing its vehicles, so that it can start charging fares. Its first paid rides will be available in Las Vegas, when it also debuted its service in 2025. In California, Zoox is available in San Francisco, but it didn’t say when it will begin charging people for rides in the city. Since the exemption is good for two years, Zoox will probably be offering paid rides in more cities than those two. Earlier this year, it revealed that it was going to bring its robotaxis to Dallas, Phoenix, Austin, and Miami, among other locations in the U.S. But the NHTSA’s exemption comes with conditions. The agency says it will keep a close eye on Zoox and can update the rules as the company's tech changes. Earlier this month, Zoox had to issue a software recall because its cars weren't detecting smoke properly.