NHTSA Grants Zoox First Commercial Exemption for Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxi

NHTSA granted Zoox a temporary exemption from eight Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, letting the Amazon subsidiary charge for rides in purpose-built robotaxis lacking steering wheels or pedals. CEO Aicha Evans called it the first such commercial exemption. Fleet is capped at 2,500 vehicles annually for two years. Las Vegas launches first; California still requires state permits.