Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Zoox Receives NHTSA Approval to Deploy Robotaxis Without Human Controls
Amazon owns a company called Zoox that makes self‑driving cars.
The U.S. safety agency, NHTSA, said Zoox can start using up to 2,500 of these cars each year for two years.
The cars don’t have steering wheels or a driver inside.
Zoox can now charge people for rides in places like Las Vegas and San Francisco, but it must follow extra rules and report any problems.
This is the first time a company built a robotaxi from scratch has gotten this kind of permission.
Other companies, like Tesla and Waymo, are also trying to do the same thing but haven’t gotten approval yet.
Amazon-owned Zoox received NHTSA approval to commercially deploy up to 2,500 steering‑wheel‑free robotaxis per year for two years.
The exemption allows Zoox to begin charging passengers in Las Vegas and San Francisco, pending state and local approvals.
NHTSA will impose reporting requirements and can revoke the exemption if major safety issues arise.
The approval marks a first for autonomous ride‑hailing companies built from scratch, bypassing older human‑driver safety rules.
Other firms such as Tesla and Waymo are also pursuing similar robotaxi services, but have not yet secured U.S. regulatory clearance.
- Who
- Amazon-owned Zoox and NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison
- What
- NHTSA approval to commercially deploy robotaxis without human controls
- When
- Thursday
- Where
- United States, specifically Las Vegas and San Francisco
- Why
- To allow commercial deployment of robotaxis and to test safety standards for autonomous vehicles
- Company
- Zoox
- Approval Type
- Commercial deployment of robotaxis without human controls
- Annual Vehicle Limit
- 2,500 vehicles per year
- Duration
- Two years
- First Deployment Locations
- Las Vegas, San Francisco
- Regulator
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Key Person
- Jonathan Morrison, NHTSA Administrator
