NHTSA Probes Zoox Self-Certification Process

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has said it’s investigating exactly how Zoox managed to certify its autonomous vehicles for use on public roads. In 2017, the NHTSA released updated guidance for automakers hoping to manufacture self-driving cars. But regulators are now upset that they lack the necessary hardware defined by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Meanwhile, Zoox has remained adamant that regulators already approved its vehicles for testing on public roads and it would very much like to expand the business. In February of 2023, the NHTSA confirmed with Automotive News that it had launched an investigation into "self-certification claims" made by Zoox shortly after it launched robotaxis on public roads.