WASHINGTON — The highest U.S. auto security regulator on Monday mentioned it’s investigating Zoox Inc.’s self-certification in 2022 that its robotaxi met all relevant federal security requirements.
NHTSA mentioned in a submitting made public Monday that it’ll study the method and technical information that Amazon-owned Zoox relied on when certifying that its robotaxi met federal necessities to journey on public roads.
The probe — known as an “audit question” — comes after NHTSA informed Automotive Information in February that the company was reviewing “self-certification claims” made by Zoox simply days after it launched its robotaxi on public roads.
An audit question is a kind of administrative investigation utilized by the company to find out whether or not an organization has complied with its authorized obligation, in keeping with NHTSA.
In an announcement Monday, NHTSA spokesperson Veronica Morales mentioned the probe will enable the company to “additional study the method and technical information on which Zoox relied when certifying {that a} passenger car it had produced met all relevant Federal Motor Car Security Requirements.”
“Particularly,” she added, “NHTSA will take into account the extent to which Zoox’s certification foundation depended upon unilaterally developed check procedures or determinations that sure requirements had been inapplicable as a result of distinctive configuration of the car.”
Zoox licensed in June 2022 that its robotaxi met all relevant federal security requirements. In September, NHTSA ordered Zoox to reply sure questions on its foundation for certifying the car. Zoox responded to the company’s order in November, in keeping with a NHTSA doc.
Christopher Nalevanko, Zoox’s common counsel, mentioned in an announcement that the corporate stays assured in its self-certification course of and information and that it’s dedicated to working intently with NHTSA.
“Security is foundational to Zoox. Given we’re the primary within the trade to self-certify a purpose-built robotaxi to the FMVSS, that is an anticipated subsequent step for our regulatory journey,” he mentioned within the assertion. “As you will see in NHTSA’s request, there are not any considerations, violations or accusations made by NHTSA concerning Zoox. It is a request to realize a further stage of particulars and data on the self-certification exams Zoox carried out, which have met or exceeded relevant FMVSS efficiency necessities.”
Not like a standard automobile and the automobiles most different robotaxi builders are utilizing, the Zoox car lacks the steering wheel, brake pedal and different controls human drivers want.
Zoox began utilizing the robotaxi final month to move staff between two firm places of work in Foster Metropolis, Calif., after receiving a allow from the state’s Division of Motor Autos. To acquire the allow, Zoox self-certified that the EV met present FMVSS, CEO Aicha Evans mentioned.
Producers can self-certify compliance. In some circumstances, NHTSA might scrutinize self-certifications to make sure they conform with the requirements.
NHTSA doesn’t preapprove or prohibit the introduction of recent automobiles or know-how so long as they adjust to motorcar security requirements. Autos that don’t comply can nonetheless be deployed however should first apply for an exemption.
Zoox didn’t apply for an exemption, nor did the corporate pursue different lesser-known regulatory avenues, resembling exporting and importing automobiles. Nonetheless, Evans mentioned there have been “no limitations” on the corporate’s deployment, which to this point includes a single robotaxi touring a one-mile route between the Zoox buildings. Solely staff are passengers.
The Zoox probe marks the fourth investigation by NHTSA right into a self-driving tech firm. Previous to the Zoox investigation, the company opened a security probe into the automated driving system in automobiles produced by Normal Motors’ Cruise unit and two probes into startup tech agency Pony.ai.
Automotive Information’ Pete Bigelow contributed to this report.