Trump administration grants Zoox commercial robotaxi exemption, first US AV firm to get approval

Published Jul 31, 04:00 PM UTC

The Trump administration's NHTSA granted Zoox a two-year temporary exemption for commercial deployment of up to 2,500 autonomous vehicles annually, making it the first American AV company to receive such approval. Zoox, already operating free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco, plans to expand to Austin and Miami. The move aligns with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's deregulatory 'transportation innovation agenda,' which aims to remove federal motor vehicle standards that are unnecessary for driverless cars, such as mandates for steering wheels and brake pedals. NHTSA also announced a $5 million partnership with SAE to develop national safety standards and replace state-level patchwork regulations. While the exemption drew support from cyclists, disability rights groups, and road safety organizations, it faced opposition from transportation unions. Critics warn the move could lead to regulatory capture, as NHTSA plans to build oversight structures around Zoox's technology.