Key facts
- Zoox received federal approval from the NHTSA.
- Zoox robotaxis are custom-built and lack traditional human controls.
- Zoox is now permitted to charge for rides in its robotaxis.
- This approval is a significant step for Zoox's autonomous vehicle deployment.
- Waymo is resuming freeway driving for its robotaxis.
- Waymo's service operates in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Waymo had paused freeway operations over two months ago.
- The previous pause was due to issues navigating construction zones.
- Waymo has implemented software updates before resuming freeway driving.
Amazon's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Zoox, has secured a critical federal exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This approval permits Zoox to charge passengers for rides in its purpose-built robotaxis, which are designed without traditional manual driving controls like steering wheels or pedals. This exemption represents a significant advancement for Zoox's efforts to deploy its autonomous ride-hailing service.
In parallel, Waymo, another major player in the autonomous vehicle sector, is gradually reinstating freeway routes for its driverless ride-hailing service. This service operates across multiple locations, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Waymo had voluntarily paused its freeway operations more than two months prior, citing difficulties its robotaxis encountered when navigating complex construction zones. The company has since conducted software updates to address these navigation challenges before resuming freeway driving.