2026 Zoox Zoox Robotaxi

In July 2022, Zoox announced that it had certified a self-driving vehicle as being compliant with all applicable FMVSS. Zoox described these “purpose-built” vehicles as bi-directional, equipped with an automated driving system, and lacking traditional driving controls. Zoox was an outlier in the industry, having self-certified these vehicles rather than seeking an available exemption. Publicly available materials depicting Zoox’s vehicles suggested that they may not be compliant with certain FMVSS. On September 6, 2022, NHTSA issued a Special Order directing Zoox to answer certain questions and provide information relating to the company’s basis for certifying that the vehicle met all applicable FMVSS. Zoox responded to the Special Order on November 7, 2022. Based on Zoox’s response and other available information, NHTSA opened this Audit Query (AQ23001) on March 3, 2023, to examine the process and technical data on which Zoox relied when certifying the Zoox vehicle and related issues. During this investigation, NHTSA continued its evaluation of information provided by Zoox regarding its vehicles and basis of certification. NHTSA additionally conducted an on-site inspection of two Zoox vehicles. In December 2024, NHTSA issued Zoox an inspection report documenting its findings, which included multiple apparent noncompliances with applicable FMVSS. Following dialogue with the agency during the course of this investigation, Zoox decided to apply for an FMVSS exemption for the subject vehicles. Specifically, in June 2025, Zoox requested an exemption under § 30114(a) for the purposes of demonstration of its purpose-built vehicles. NHTSA carefully evaluated Zoox’s exemption request under the agency’s Automated Vehicle Exemption Program. On August 4, 2025, NHTSA granted Zoox an exemption subject to certain conditions, including that Zoox obscure or remove all existing statements that the purpose-built vehicle complies with or conforms to all applicable FMVSS. This exemption covers all Zoox vehicles encompassed by this investigation, apart from certain 2023 model year vehicles, which Zoox has discontinued from public road operation. As a result, all of the purpose-built vehicles manufactured by Zoox that are now operating on public roads in the United States are doing so pursuant to an FMVSS exemption issued by NHTSA. In view of these actions, NHTSA is closing this investigation. NHTSA will monitor Zoox vehicles under both its Automated Vehicle Exemption Program and other oversight authorities and will take additional action if warranted.

The Zoox was witnessed going straight from a right turn lane from [XXX] at [XXX]. They stayed in the right turn lane for a few minutes waiting for the light to turn green, with many cars stuck behind them forced to squeeze between the curb and the car, drivers at risk due to impaired visibility from the Zoox in the way. Eventually the light turned green again and it cut across from the turn lane. It committed serious traffic offences and put other drivers at risk. This company needs to be investigated because [XXX] is a very high traffic corridor and these autonomous vehicles cannot handle it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11765509

Incident

Sep 12, 2026

On XXX, at 12:36 AM, a child and an adult were passengers in an autonomous Zoox vehicle operating on the [XXX]. The trip was a promotional autonomous ride from [XXX] to the [XXX] drop-off location at [XXX].Upon reaching the destination, the vehicle suffered a critical software routing failure. Instead of executing the drop-off protocol, the automated vehicle entered an infinite loop, driving in continuous circles around the property over and over again. My son has a disability and became highly distressed and panicked was crying and very scared while contained inside.While the vehicle was actively malfunctioning, I called to Zoox Customer Support from inside the cabin. The remote human agent explicitly stated over the phone: "Yes, we can see exactly what is going on with the ride." Despite this live confirmation that the vehicle was trapped in a routing glitch and me and my son were in severe distress, the remote monitoring team failed to immediately override the system, shut down the loop, or pull the vehicle over to allow a safe exit.The vehicle ultimately logged a total trip distance of 6.15 miles and a 30-minute duration (Drop-off delayed until 1:06 AM) for a standard, direct route that should have been approximately 2.3 miles and under 10 minutes. Following the incident, an automated $25.00 Starbucks gift card was issued by the operator at 5:37 AM as a standard automated response to the trip failure.a gift card doesn’t take away the trauma my son went through This safety report is being filed because a human-in-the-loop remote override system should immediately intervene when a vehicle is trapped in an operational loop. Allowing a vehicle to continuously circle with distressed passengers after verbal notification constitutes a significant autonomous vehicle safety hazard that requires federal review. Before other people get hurt INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11760791

Incident

Aug 6, 2026

The Zoox was parked in the bike lane with its 4way flasher blinking. It was completely obstructing the bike lane (there was no way around it) and because it wasn’t trying to get in or out of an adjacent parking space, this was straightforwardly illegal behavior. This illegal behavior harms safety by forcing bicyclists on this very popular bike route out into mixed traffic with cars at unsafe speeds.

NHTSA ID

11740181

Incident

May 26, 2026

The zoox vehicle pulled over blocking the entire right lane and boxing my car into its parking spot and blocking me from leaving. Honking or inching towards it did nothing. It sat there for many minutes until a rider came.

NHTSA ID

11739088

Incident

May 20, 2026