Driverless Cars

The Trump Administration Just Named a Front-Runner in the Robotaxi Race

Zoox got the first commercial exemption for a driverless car. It came with a promise that safety regulations would evolve “as Zoox's technology advances.”

Tosin Akintola | 7.31.2026 12:00 PM

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(Photo courtesy of Zoox, Inc.)

Riding in a car without brake pedals* or a steering wheel might soon be a regular occurrence for residents of Las Vegas and San Francisco.

On Thursday, the Transportation Department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it is granting a two-year temporary exemption to autonomous robotaxi company Zoox for commercial deployment of up to 2,500 vehicles annually.

Last August, Zoox became the first American autonomous vehicle (A.V.) company to receive a demonstration exemption for its fleet. The company has been operating free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco, with plans to expand to Austin, Texas, and Miami in the near future.

The move aligns with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's "transportation innovation........

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