While pioneer Waymo has long offered large-scale paid robotaxi services using modified production vehicles, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has now given Zoox the green light to charge for rides. Waymo’s younger rival is thus the first provider in the USA permitted to charge for rides in a purpose-built robotaxi designed entirely without traditional manual controls such as a steering wheel or foot pedals. The exemption is limited to a maximum of 2,500 vehicles per year for the next two years and represents a regulatory milestone for the mobility sector.
This breakthrough is underpinned by a newly created exemption by the US Department of Transportation to support domestic manufacturers in commercialising the next generation of autonomous vehicles without traditional controls. Zoox benefited from years of coordination with regulators to navigate outdated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which were originally designed for human drivers.
According to the company, demand has been high. Since the launch of its free service in Las Vegas and the Zoox Explorers Programme in San Francisco, more than half a million passengers have been transported—entirely free of charge as part of permits for public testing of the autonomous ride service. Zoox also reports that half a million interested users are now on its digital waiting list.
