Amazon's autonomous vehicle subsidiary Zoox has received an exemption from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to operate its fully driverless, steering-wheel-free robotaxis on public roads. This regulatory approval permits Zoox to manufacture up to 10,000 of these purpose-built electric vehicles annually, positioning the company as a stronger competitor against rivals such as Alphabet's Waymo. The NHTSA certification also concluded its investigation into Zoox's compliance with federal safety requirements. Following this clearance, Zoox plans to launch its robotaxi service in Las Vegas. The vehicles are designed without conventional controls like steering wheels, mirrors, or pedals, marking a significant advancement in autonomous vehicle deployment in the U.S.