Amazon’s self-driving unit Zoox has received approval from US regulators to launch commercial robotaxi services without traditional driving controls.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has allowed Zoox to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles, marking a major step forward for driverless transport technology.

Unlike regular cars, Zoox robotaxis are built without steering wheels and pedals, featuring a fully autonomous passenger-focused design.

The company will begin charging passengers for rides in Las Vegas, after previously offering free trial rides in cities including Las Vegas and San Francisco.

Zoox says the approval will help expand its robotaxi network and compete with other autonomous driving companies such as Waymo and Tesla.

However, regulators will continue monitoring safety performance, with Zoox required to report crashes and unusual vehicle behaviour.