Toronto, Ontario -- Zoox, an autonomous ride-hailing vehicle manufacturer, driverless vehicles have been issued an exemption under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s expanded Automated Vehicle Exemption Program. The American technology company is now allowed to demonstrate its custom-built robotaxis on public roads. This is the first exemption for American-built AVs in the AVEP.
The NHTSA’s expansion of its AVEP in April permitted domestically produced vehicles in the AV framework, as only foreign AVs were previously included.
“Thanks to the expanded AVEP, transportation innovators can be confident in getting speedy review of their vehicles and, as appropriate, exemption from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,” said NHTSA chief counsel Peter Simshauser in Wednesday’s press release. “We look forward to continuing our work to ensure these exciting technologies are tested safely on our roads.”
Zoox must remove or cover all statements that its vehicles comply with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards per the exemption’s conditions. The exemption covers all Zoox-manufactured purpose-driven vehicles operating on certain public roads in the U.S., including ones in Foster City, California, San Francisco and Las Vegas. The NHTSA is closing its investigation into Zoox’s self-certification of its purpose-built AVs, according to the press release.
The legal situation facing AV manufacturers is different in Canada, where the manufacturing and importation of motor vehicles are regulated by the federal government’s Motor Vehicle Safety Act. In addition, Transport Canada and the Canadian Council of Motor Transportation Administrators have created a set of AV guidelines.
According to section nine of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, companies can submit an application to Transport Canada, which, if granted, would exempt them from a standard for a specified period of time as long as the exemption promotes new kinds of safety features, systems, technologies or vehicles.
Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec are the only provinces currently testing AVs. AVs are regulated by The Highway Traffic Act and the Ministry of Transportation’s Automated Vehicle Pilot Program in Ontario.
Ontario is the first province to launch a pilot program, which began in 2016 and was updated in 2019. Level three to five AVs can be tested on Ontario’s roads under certain conditions. Program-eligible organizations include academic institutions, auto manufacturers, technology companies and other manufacturers of parts, systems or equipment.
Under Manitoba’s Vehicle Technology Testing Act, a test vehicle can be operated with or without an automatic driving system that has a technology testing permit. In Quebec, there are two exceptions that allow level three AVs on the road. AVs must either be authorized for sale in Canada by Transport Canada or it must be part of a pilot project run by the Québec Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable.
Nova Scotia’s Traffic Safety Act is waiting for royal proclamation, which, when in force, will have amendments enabling insurance mandates to be set out for AVs.
