Is Amazon’s Robotaxi Firm Avoiding Federal Safety Regulations?

This week, Zoox cofounder and CTO, Jesse Levinson, announced at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 that the company plans to deploy its purpose-built autonomous vehicles in San Francisco and Las Vegas over the coming weeks. However, there was little discussion regarding the ongoing investigation into the Amazon-owned company’s claims that its vehicles, which resemble giant toasters and lack traditional controls such as steering wheels and pedals, comply with federal safety regulations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed that it has an open investigation into Zoox’s self-certification claims and that the company has not received an exemption from these rules. While details about the investigation were not disclosed, the spokesperson provided confirmation of its existence.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) stipulate the inclusion of traditional controls in vehicles, such as steering wheels with airbags, pedals, and mirrors, with detailed specifications for their placement. Automakers typically file petitions for temporary exemptions from these standards if their vehicles do not include such controls.

Zoox asserts that it does not require exemptions, claiming its vehicles self-certify as compliant with existing safety standards. The company emphasized this goal in a July 2022 blog post and stated in November 2023 that this milestone had been achieved, thus making Zoox the first company to self-certify a purpose-built, fully autonomous, all-electric passenger vehicle according to FMVSS.

Other companies have pursued exemptions with varying outcomes. Nuro was granted an exemption in 2020 for its R2 delivery vehicles, which lack conventional controls. GM also sought an exemption in 2022 for its Origin vehicles but faced delays due to a controversy involving a pedestrian injury caused by one of its robotaxis in San Francisco. Consequently, production of GM’s Origin vehicle was put on indefinite hold.

Zoox’s vehicles, akin to the Origin, can travel in either direction and feature a cabin design where passenger seats face each other. These vehicles are authorized by the California DMV to operate within a “limited area” in Foster City, California, where Zoox is headquartered.

At the event, Levinson mentioned that Zoox would initially transport employees in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood and the Las Vegas Strip. However, safety advocates have raised concerns that the company is bypassing a crucial step in its pursuit of launching a commercial service. Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, argued that deploying these vehicles on public roads breaches the Safety Act, challenging NHTSA to respond.

The responsibility rests with NHTSA to enforce existing rules, and the agency has recently demonstrated increased scrutiny toward autonomous vehicle operators, with investigations involving Waymo, Zoox, Ford, and Tesla. Should safety issues be identified, NHTSA could mandate a recall.

During Disrupt, TechCrunch transportation editor Kirsten Korosec inquired whether Levinson was concerned about potential federal government actions hindering Zoox’s rollout. Levinson affirmed that the vehicle is fully FMVSS compliant and stated that Zoox would continue to address any concerns raised by NHTSA. He expressed confidence in Zoox’s adherence to the regulations, highlighting the substantial investments in time and resources to comply with FMVSS guidelines, which sometimes necessitate interpreting the rules to suit a robotaxi context.

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