An Amazon-backed self-driving taxi by Zoox has been found noncompliant with safety standards due to the absence of essential features like brake pedals and rearview mirrors, prompting scrutiny of the industry's push for autonomous vehicles on roads.

Elon Musk's Tesla is preparing to launch a free self-driving taxi service in California, pending regulatory approval. The company aims to deploy autonomous vehicles nationwide, although safety concerns and regulatory hurdles persist.