The NHTSA has approved Amazon subsidiary Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 autonomous vehicles annually for two years without steering wheels or driving controls. This marks the first US approval for paid commercial robotaxi service using purpose-built vehicles designed from the ground up, capable of carrying four passengers. Zoox is currently testing in Las Vegas and San Francisco, where paid rides still require additional local approvals. The company unveiled its production-intent vehicle in June 2026 and is building a manufacturing facility in Hayward, California, targeting 100 vehicles per week. This exemption could serve as a template for future federal rules on autonomous vehicles in the United States.
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