DRIVERLESS VEHICLES RECEIVE GREEN LIGHT IN USA

For many years we have written that Driverless Vehicles (DV), Self Driven Vehicles, Full Self Driving (FSD), Autonomous Vehicles (AU) and other autos, among other types of vehicles, were being developed to allow the vehicle, with proper programming, to deliver people and products without a driver within the vehicle.  (Even though there are various labels employed to identify a vehicle that moves people and property from place to place without a driver, in this note the label of DV is used to refer to any of the above noted terms for such vehicles.)

We have continued to examine this DV subject in many settings, such as the import of DV patents and discoveries in this field as they impact issues in the real estate field, among other areas.  (We are all moving people and property from one location to another on a constant basis.)

Recently, on 8/6/2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued an important exemption related to DV.  Under the direction of the US Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, the NHTSA has provided for an exemption for DV undertaken by the  Zoox Company.

Under this exemption, when DV under Zoox are on public roads, they do not require a steering wheel or brakes for a potential driver.  This is a big benefit for Zoox and allows American companies to compete on this position with some of the foreign companies testing DV in the US.

The statement given by the NHTSA stated:

“As a condition of the exemption, Zoox will remove or cover all statements that its purpose-built vehicles comply with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. All of the purpose-built vehicles manufactured by Zoox and operating on public roads in the United States are now covered by this exemption.”  (NHTSA Issues First-Ever Demonstration Exemption to American-Built Automated Vehicles | NHTSA)

As Secretary Duffy said, this type of exemption allows American companies to compete with foreign companies as to DV. 

This exemption should alert all companies and individuals that the era of DV is moving quickly throughout the world—and with great support for the same in the USA.  The DV, as we have stated in other articles, is here.  It is present in robotaxis, buses, farming, and many other areas.  Real estate folks should be cognizant of how the DV will impact the choice of where to live, what to build, and how each part of our economy will feel the impact, good and bad, when DVs dominate transportation of people and property.

It is not only drones that will deliver goods; DV will also be very involved in this aspect of the movement of goods. DV trucks are only one aspect of this issue as to delivering goods.

For more on this issue, see the Levine Tips and Levine Newsletter. https://www.markleelevine.com/

By

Dr. Mark Lee Levine, Professor, University of Denver