NHTSA exemptions for automated vehicles without manual controls (49 CFR part 555 and the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program)
A vehicle that cannot meet a federal motor vehicle safety standard because it has no steering wheel or pedals may be sold or operated only under an exemption, granted in limited numbers and for a limited time where the agency finds it in the public interest and the vehicle at least as safe as a compliant one; exemptions carry reporting conditions. A parallel program covers non-commercial demonstration of domestically built automated vehicles.
Draft mapping. Drafted by the Register's agents from the rule's text and not yet confirmed by a person. It is the Register's reading, not legal advice: whether and how the rule applies to you is a question for counsel.
Controls this rule maps to
Required by the text The rule's text requires a measure that is this control, or plainly includes it. Implied A binding rule whose purpose needs this control, but whose text does not name it. The Register's reading. Recommended A voluntary standard or guidance recommends it; nothing binds you to it. Proposed Appears in a proposed rule or proposed provision that is not yet in force.
| Control | Strength | Where in the rule, and why | Confidence | Missing or failed in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting integrity C-V2 | Implied | exemptions are granted with conditions that include reporting to the agency during the exemption period | medium | 1 case |
| Organizational recovery process C-R4 | Implied | the agency can limit numbers, set terms, and end an exemption, giving the regulator visibility of fleet performance | low | 1 case |
Cases that cite this rule
| Case | How the case cites it | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Zoox smoke scene 2026 | NHTSA Automated Vehicle Exemption Program reporting obligation (Zoox notified NHTSA of the event on 25 June 2026) | Stopped by the operator's control |