Robotaxis Gain Approval to Operate Without Steering Wheels
WHO:
ABC News - Zoox CEO Aicha Evans stated, “This achievement reflects a shared commitment to enabling innovation while maintaining the highest standards of safety.”
Boston.com - Federal regulators are involved in the approval process for robotaxis.
WHAT:
ABC News - Zoox has already been offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year.
ABC News - More than half a million people have already ridden in Zoox's vehicles.
ABC News - Amazon hopes to eventually produce as many as 10,000 robotaxis a year at a plant near Silicon Valley.
ABC News - Zoox will initially be allowed to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles without steering wheels over the next two years.
ABC News - Amazon's Zoox vehicles received approval to begin charging customers for rides after securing state and local approval.
ABC News - Zoox plans to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles without steering wheels over the next two years.
ABC News Business - Robotaxis have been approved to operate without steering wheels.
ABC News Business - There is potential for robotaxis to operate without brake pedals in the future.
WHERE:
Boston.com - The approval pertains to vehicle safety regulations in the United States.
WHY:
Boston.com - Most vehicle safety regulations were written decades ago with the assumption of a human driver.
HOW:
ABC News - The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety stated that the limited crash data required from autonomous vehicle companies makes it hard to assess the safety record of robotaxis.
ABC News - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed a rule last month to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, which is still pending.
ABC News Business - Federal regulators are clearing the way for the operation of robotaxis without traditional driving controls.
(UPDATED July 31, 2026 07:53 UTC)
Zoox has been providing free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year, and over half a million people have already experienced their autonomous vehicles. Amazon plans to ramp up production to as many as 10,000 robotaxis annually at a plant near Silicon Valley, with Zoox set to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles without steering wheels over the next two years. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has noted that the limited crash data from autonomous vehicle companies makes it challenging to evaluate the safety record of these robotaxis.
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(UPDATED July 31, 2026 06:05 UTC)
Amazon's Zoox vehicles have received the green light to start charging customers for rides after obtaining necessary state and local approvals. CEO Aicha Evans expressed that this achievement showcases a commitment to innovation while prioritizing safety, as Zoox plans to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles without steering wheels over the next two years. This development follows a recent proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, although that rule is still pending.
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(UPDATED July 30, 2026 23:24 UTC)
Federal regulators are currently involved in the approval process for robotaxis, which have recently been cleared to operate without steering wheels. This significant development in vehicle safety regulations in the United States could pave the way for robotaxis to eventually function without brake pedals as well. It's worth noting that many of these regulations were established decades ago, based on the assumption that a human driver would always be behind the wheel.