[AutonomousVehicles] zoox gets exemption from federal government

[Cornelius Butler]

Zoox gets Exemption from The Federal Government.

Article Link:
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/06/amazon-zoox-robotaxi.html

Article TExt:

Amazon’s Zoox robotaxi unit is ramping up vehicle production at a new
facility in Hayward, California.

Amazon’s Zoox has cleared a key regulatory hurdle, paving the way for
demonstrations of its self-driving robotaxis.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday that it
granted Zoox an exemption from some requirements, a first for U.S.-built
vehicles under a recently expanded program.

“Transportation innovators can be confident in getting speedy review of
their vehicles and, as appropriate, exemption from Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said in a release.

The company must remove all existing statements that its purpose-built
vehicles meet all federal motor vehicle safety standards.

As part of the announcement, NHTSA said it’s closing a probe opened in
March 2023 into Zoox’s self-certification that its robotaxi met federal
safety standards.

“Through this new exemption process, we are excited to embark on this new
path, put these discussions behind us, and move forward,” Zoox said in a
statement.

The Department of Transportation in April announced it would expand a
program that aims to speed up the autonomous vehicle exemption process to
include domestically produced vehicles. Previously, it was limited to
imported AVs.

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The easing of regulations will benefit Zoox and its competitors.

Tesla has announced that it plans to produce a two-seater CyberCab with no
steering wheel or pedals down the line.

The expansion of the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program could make it
easier for the company to conduct testing and operate on public, U.S.
roadways if Elon Musk’s automaker can meet the agency’s requirements.

Zoox, founded 11 years ago and purchased by Amazon for $1.3 billion in
2020, has been gearing up for further expansion this year.

The company in June opened a robotaxi manufacturing facility in the San
Francisco Bay Area, where it aims to eventually produce 10,000 vehicles a
year once it’s at full scale.

Zoox needs more of its toaster-shaped robotaxis to roll off the assembly
line to fulfill its mission of deploying a commercial ride-hailing service
in the U.S.

The company has eyed Las Vegas as its first commercial market, and said it
plans to begin service there later this year.

-- CNBC’s Lora Kolodny contributed reporting to this article.
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