Amazon's autonomous robotaxis can begin charging people for rides after gaining a series of approvals from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The temporary exemptions granted by the NHTSA allow Amazon's Zoox to deploy its robotaxis commercially. The exemption allows 2,500 vehicles annually for two years.
The exemption will allow Zoox to deploy fully autonomous robotaxis that don't have steering wheels. Reuters reported that this exemption was significant for the industry because it could clear the way for companies to develop robotaxis from scratch, rather than essentially converting conventional vehicles.
"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," NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said. "These advancements will ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in AV technology in a safe and responsible manner."
According to the NHTSA, Zoox will operate under an enhanced oversight structure that will "evolve as Zoox's technology advances."
The NHTSA also announced a partnership with SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (ITC) which will help create the first AV performance standards.
"This partnership will fund a three-year, $5 million 'A2SCEND' consortium, bringing together experts to gather data and accelerate creation of the first-ever AV performance standards," the NHTSA announced. "This project will inform a single national standard for AV safety to eliminate the patchwork regulatory landscape that has stifled innovation for years."
According to Reuters, there are some restrictions in place. For example, Zoox cannot sell vehicles to the public. Also, Morrison told the wire service that the NHTSA can pull the exemption if they start seeing significant problems or safety issues.
"We can say pretty clearly that the systems in place on the Zoox exceed the equivalent performance requirements of a compliant vehicle," Morrison told Reuters. "But we still want to make sure that the automated driving system will operate appropriately."
CNBC reported that a Zoox spokesperson told them that the company intends to start paid rides in Las Vegas in August. After that, Zoox plans to expand to other markets.
The network reported that Zoox's unique design had faced significant challenges getting approval. Other so-called robotaxis, such as Alphabet's Waymo, use retrofitted cars that have human components such as steering wheels and brakes. Whereas Zoox's vehicles lack any traditional driver controls.
