Zoox secures NHTSA exemption to launch its steering wheel-free robotaxis, paving the way for autonomous ride services in major U.S. cities this year.

Amazon's Zoox has been granted an exemption by federal vehicle safety regulators that will pave the way for demonstration of its driverless robotaxis. As part of the move, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed a 2023 probe into Zoox's self-certification process.

The Trump administration has cleared the way for Zoox, the autonomous-vehicle subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc., to demonstrate self-driving cars that lack traditional driving controls like steering wheels.