GoKawiilAmazon -owned Zoox on Thursday received a temporary exemption from U.S. regulators, paving the way for the company to start offering paid robotaxi rides.
The exemption from some National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rules allows Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years, "subject to an enhanced, adaptable oversight structure that can evolve as Zoox's technology advances," the agency said in a release.
Zoox CEO Aicha Evans said in a statement that the move represents an "important milestone" for the company and the broader autonomous vehicle industry.
"We are honored to receive the first-ever commercial exemption for a purpose-built robotaxi from NHTSA, enabling us to begin charging for our service and take another step toward bringing autonomous ride-hailing to more communities," Evans said.
A Zoox spokesperson said the company will start paid rides in Las Vegas next month, with additional markets to follow as it meets state commercialization requirements.
Last August, NHTSA granted Zoox an exemption that allowed the company to demonstrate its robotaxis on public roads, but it still lacked the necessary clearance to begin charging fares. Since then, it has expanded the number of U.S. testing locations, and allowed members of the public to hail free driverless rides in parts of San Francisco and Las Vegas.