NHTSA Grants Zoox 2-Year Robotaxi Exemption for 100-Vehicle Las Vegas Service

3 articles · Updated · theweeklydriver.com · Aug 24

Zoox began charging for rides in Las Vegas on Aug. 10 after NHTSA’s first commercial exemption for a passenger robotaxi built without a steering wheel took effect through July 31, 2028.
Eight FMVSS requirements were partially waived because they assume a human driver, including mirrors, wipers, defrosters, a foot-operated brake and a sun visor; NHTSA said the decision did not judge overall driving performance or full compliance.
Separate limits still constrain the rollout: federal law caps exempted production at 2,500 vehicles a year, NHTSA’s operational authorization governs where and how many can run, and Nevada’s permit caps the Las Vegas fleet at 100.
Zoox’s path to approval followed a 2023-2025 NHTSA audit that challenged its earlier self-certification, and the company has filed four software recalls since March 2025, most recently for 105 robotaxis after a smoke-obscured emergency-scene incident.
The grant highlights a broader regulatory gap: NHTSA can exempt driver-specific equipment and require monthly reports on crashes, disengagements and miles driven, but says it lacks authority to impose a higher ADS performance standard in this process.