The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Amazon.com’s Zoox self-driving vehicles following two rear-end collisions involving motorcyclists. The incidents prompted NHTSA to open a preliminary evaluation into 500 Zoox vehicles equipped with automated driving systems.
Both collisions involved a Toyota Highlander equipped with the Zoox Automated Driving System, resulting in minor injuries to motorcyclists. Zoox stated its commitment to transparency and collaboration with regulators, emphasizing its willingness to work closely with NHTSA to address their concerns.
Zoox recently expanded its vehicle testing in California and Nevada to include a broader range of conditions, including higher speeds and nighttime driving, as it competes with Alphabet’s Waymo in the autonomous vehicle market. Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for $1.3 billion.
NHTSA’s initial investigation revealed that both crashes occurred within the operational design limits of the Zoox system, with the automated driving system engaged. The probe will focus on evaluating the performance of the Zoox Automated Driving System during the collisions and its behavior in scenarios involving vulnerable road users.
In a separate investigation initiated in March 2023, NHTSA is examining Zoox’s self-certification of a robotaxi without traditional driving controls. The probe seeks to determine whether Zoox’s certification basis relied on unilaterally developed test procedures or exceptions due to the vehicle’s unique configuration.