US safety regulators have granted Amazon-owned Zoox a temporary exemption allowing it to charge passengers for rides in its purpose-built robotaxis. The decision removes one of the final regulatory barriers to a paid commercial service, despite the vehicles lacking conventional controls such as steering wheels and pedals.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration exempted Zoox from eight federal vehicle safety standards, including requirements covering windscreen defrosting and braking systems. Zoox may operate up to 2,500 commercial vehicles a year for two years under enhanced oversight; it had previously been allowed to offer free public rides in San Francisco and Las Vegas. The regulator also announced work towards national autonomous-vehicle safety standards, including a three-year, $5 million industry-funded data consortium.