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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedJuly 30, 2026United States

Federal Regulators Approve Robotaxis Without Steering Wheels

Federal regulators have cleared the way for Amazon-owned Zoox to operate autonomous vehicles without steering wheels, marking a shift in safety standards for driverless cars. While the company can now charge for rides, it faces a cap on the number of vehicles deployed and ongoing scrutiny regarding safety data and reporting standards.

autonomous vehiclestransportation safetytechnology regulationrobotaxis
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Why It Matters

This decision allows for the commercial operation of vehicles lacking traditional manual controls, setting a precedent for future regulations and potentially increasing the availability of driverless ride-sharing services.

Key Facts

  • Zoox received federal approval to begin charging customers for rides in vehicles without steering wheels.
  • Zoox is limited to deploying a maximum of 2,500 vehicles without steering wheels over the next two years.
  • Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.2 billion and aims to produce up to 10,000 robotaxis annually.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a rule to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, which is currently pending.
  • Existing vehicle safety regulations were designed for human-driven cars and often mandate features like steering wheels and side-view mirrors.
  • The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety group has expressed concern over a lack of detailed safety data provided by Zoox.
  • The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that inconsistent reporting standards make it difficult to calculate crash rates for autonomous vehicles.
  • Zoox has provided free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year, with over half a million total riders reported.

Who's Mentioned

organizationInsurance Institute for Highway Safety“Safety research organization”personAicha Evans“CEO of Zoox”organizationAlphabet“Parent company of Waymo”personJonathan Morrison“NHTSA Administrator”organizationZoox“Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company”personPeter Kurdock“General Counsel for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety”other2,500“Cap on vehicles without steering wheels allowed over two years”organizationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration“Federal regulator overseeing vehicle safety”organizationWaymo“Competitor in the robotaxi industry”organizationAmazon“Parent company of Zoox”other10,000“Target annual production capacity for Zoox vehicles”