Mentioned:
Zoox has just won a major new regulatory approval. And they’re making history in the process.
What’s happening:
- Amazon's (NASDAQ: AMZN) subsidiary Zoox has won a temporary federal exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to allow their autonomous vehicles for commercial operations
Why it matters:
- Zoox is the first company to ever win an approval to be able to charge customers for rides in an autonomous vehicle that do not have a steering wheel or pedals
Going deeper:
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new federal exemption for Zoox will allow them to deploy up to 2,500 of their autonomous vehicles annually for the next two years for commercial operations within in the United States
- Zoox has publicly stated they plan to initially roll out paid rides in Las Vegas and intend to begin launching in other major cities as they receive state-level requirements
The fine print:
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s federal exemption for Zoox does not ultimately override state-level regulations and Zoox will still need to clear permitting requirements in states including California and others
