NHTSA Grants Zoox Two-Year Exemption From Several Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Its Automated Driving System Vehicle

Amazon-owned Zoox’s purpose-built autonomous robotaxi operates without a steering wheel or traditional driver controls. NHTSA’s temporary two-year exemption allows the company to commercially deploy the vehicles while operating under enhanced federal safety oversight. Scharfsinn/Shutterstock

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted automated vehicle company Zoox a temporary exemption from portions of several Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that apply to its automated driving system (ADS)-equipped vehicle. The exemption, published in the Federal Register on July 31, 2026, is effective from July 31, 2026 through July 31, 2028.

NHTSA Approves Temporary Exemption for Zoox Robotaxi