Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has filed for a federal exemption to commercially launch its custom-built robotaxi, which operates without traditional driving controls such as a steering wheel or pedals, Bloomberg reported.
The company has submitted a petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requesting a temporary waiver from eight Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that apply to passenger cars equipped with automated driving systems.
The request falls under the agency’s exemption framework, which allows for limited deployment of vehicles that do not conform to existing safety regulations.
NHTSA is reviewing the application and is expected to publish a notice for public comment after completing its initial assessment. If granted, the exemption would permit Zoox to move beyond demonstrations and begin offering a paid robotaxi service.
The filing comes after Zoox received NHTSA approval in August to test its purpose-built vehicles on public roads and after the company launched a free robotaxi service for the public in Las Vegas earlier this month. Unlike that earlier exemption, which covered research and demonstrations, the new request is aimed at enabling commercial deployment.
