Green light for Zoox robot taxis in the US: They developed a special vehicle, they will now be able to charge for rides

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted Zoox exemptions from federal rules requiring control elements such as steering wheels and pedals, allowing commercial use of up to 2,500 vehicles per year over the next two years.

The agency has assessed that the vehicles are as safe as those that meet current safety standards, but Zoox will have to additionally report traffic accidents, illegal stopping of vehicles on roads and other safety incidents.

The company will not be allowed to sell vehicles to the public. Zoox već is testing its electric autonomous vehicles in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco, and the new approval will allow it to charge for driving, with the necessary approvals from federal states and local governments.

Zoox is competing with companies like Tesla and Alphabet’s Waymo to develop autonomous transportation services. Unlike most competitors who adapt existing cars, Zoox has developed a vehicle specifically designed for autonomous driving, without a steering wheel or pedals, with two rows of seats facing each other.

NHTSA chief Jonathan Morrison said the agency plans to adopt the first federal safety standards for autonomous driving systems by the end of President Donald Trump’s administration. He added that the regulator will withdraw the approved exemptions if serious safety problems arise.