Amazon's Zoox Gets NHTSA Exemption for Self-Driving Cars

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted an exemption to Amazon's autonomous vehicle unit, Zoox, allowing its self-driving cars to operate on public roads in the US. This marks the first exemption for American-built vehicles under the NHTSA's Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP), which was recently broadened to include domestic vehicles. The exemption comes as part of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's "Innovation Agenda" to safely expand the nation's capabilities in the autonomous vehicle sector.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted an exemption to Amazon's autonomous vehicle unit, Zoox, allowing its self-driving cars to operate on public roads in the US. This marks the first exemption for American-built vehicles under the NHTSA's Automated Vehicle Exemption Program (AVEP), which was recently broadened to include domestic vehicles. The exemption comes as part of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's "Innovation Agenda" to safely expand the nation's capabilities in the autonomous vehicle sector.

The exemption, granted on August 6, 2025, allows Zoox to operate its self-driving vehicles on public roads in the US without traditional driving controls such as a brake pedal and steering wheel. This development is significant for both Zoox and the broader autonomous vehicle industry, as it paves the way for the commercial deployment of self-driving technologies [1].

Zoox, which was acquired by Amazon in 2020, has been preparing for this expansion. The company has opened a new manufacturing facility in Hayward, California, with plans to produce 10,000 vehicles annually once at full scale. Zoox has also targeted Las Vegas as its initial commercial market, aiming to begin service there later this year [3].

The NHTSA's decision comes as part of a broader shift in US policy aimed at accelerating the deployment of autonomous vehicles. The agency's recent expansion of the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program to include domestically produced vehicles has facilitated this approval. The exemption includes conditions such as the removal of statements claiming Zoox's vehicles meet all federal motor vehicle safety standards, reflecting the ongoing need for rigorous safety assessments [1, 3].

This development is not only significant for Zoox but also for the broader autonomous vehicle industry. The easing of regulations could benefit competitors like Tesla, which has announced plans to produce a two-seater CyberCab without traditional driving controls. The NHTSA's move to expedite the review process for self-driving vehicle exemptions is expected to foster innovation and accelerate the deployment of autonomous technologies [3].

References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-issues-exemption-self-driving-zoox-vehicles-closes-probe-2025-08-06/
[2] https://ainvest.com/news/amazon-autonomous-vehicle-subsidiary-zoox-nhtsa-exemption-operate-robotaxis-2508/
[3] https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/transportation/2025/08/06/nhtsa-zoox-autonomous-vehicle-exemption