Federal regulators are moving to permit robotaxis to operate without traditional steering wheels, with potential future approval for vehicles lacking brake pedals as autonomous vehicle technology advances.
Amazon's Zoox division received approval Thursday to begin commercial ride services in its purpose-built autonomous vehicles featuring four inward-facing seats, pending state and local authorization. Zoox has been providing complimentary rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since the previous year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a rule last month permitting robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, though the proposal remains under review. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison stated that the agency seeks to help safe autonomous vehicle development. "By removing unnecessary barriers to innovation, developing industry guidance, and providing strong enforcement oversight while we create performance requirements, NHTSA is taking a balanced approach to AV regulation," Morrison said in a statement. "These advancements will ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in AV technology in a safe and responsible manner."
Zoox and Tesla are competing to close the gap with Waymo, the industry leader operating across multiple cities. Waymo is owned by Alphabet, Google's parent company.
Zoox CEO Aicha Evans called the approval a significant milestone. "This achievement reflects a shared commitment to enabling innovation while maintaining the highest standards of safety," Evans said.
Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.2 billion as part of its effort to challenge Waymo's market position and eventually produce up to 10,000 robotaxis annually from a Silicon Valley facility. Zoox will initially be limited to deploying 2,500 steering-wheel-free vehicles over two years while demonstrating the technology's safety. The company reported that more than half a million people have already ridden in its vehicles.