Zoox, owned by Amazon, is set to offer its robotaxi services for hailing via Uber in Las Vegas later this year, as announced by both companies. However, Zoox needs approval from the federal government to commercially deploy its steering-wheel-less and pedal-less robotaxis, which require exemptions from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened public comments on Zoox’s application for these exemptions. Zoox has an existing exemption allowing its robotaxis to operate for demonstration purposes, not commercially.
Once Zoox receives the necessary approvals, it plans to launch its own commercial robotaxi service before making its vehicles available on Uber in Las Vegas. Currently, Zoox provides free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco and is expanding its mapping efforts in eight other U.S. cities, including Dallas and Phoenix.
Zoox and Uber describe this as a “multi-year strategic partnership,” with plans to expand to Los Angeles by 2027. This partnership marks Zoox’s first with a platform like Uber, but Uber has extensive experience with autonomous vehicle companies, including notable collaborations with Waymo, which offers robotaxis through Uber in Austin and Atlanta. Uber also partners with Baidu for testing self-driving cars in London, along with collaborations with Volkswagen, May Mobility, and Pony AI.
Uber has been enhancing offerings for its robotaxi partners, having launched an AV Labs division in January to amass real-world driving data for its partners’ systems and a division called Uber Autonomous Solutions for operational and support services.
Zoox seeks exemptions from eight FMVSS, including requirements for windshield defrosting systems and wipers. Public comments will be accepted for 30 days, but the timeline for NHTSA’s decision is unclear. At a recent autonomous vehicle safety hearing, NHTSA chief Jonathan Morrison expressed eagerness to develop a clear regulatory framework for self-driving cars, emphasizing the need to provide oversight while eliminating barriers to innovation.