Amazon’s Zoox launches Driverless Robotaxi Service in Las vegas
LAS VEGAS – Amazon’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Zoox, began offering free robotaxi rides to the public in Las Vegas on Wednesday, marking the official launch of its long-anticipated ride-hailing service. The vehicles,notable for operating without a steering wheel,are currently available to anyone with the Zoox app and willing to utilize the driverless technology.
The Las Vegas rollout follows two years of testing within the city and an initial phase limited to Zoox employees,then expanding to friends and family. Currently, rides are offered to five destinations: resorts World, the Luxor hotel, and the new York-New York hotel, with a maximum range of approximately three miles (4.8 kilometers) and a capacity of four passengers.
Zoox intends to offer the service for free for several months to build awareness in the popular tourist destination. Once fares are implemented,the company states pricing will be competitive with existing taxi and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.
Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.2 billion five years ago, leveraging its $2.5 trillion valuation to fund the growth and deployment of the robotaxi fleet. This launch positions Zoox as a competitor to Waymo, a Google-affiliated company already providing driverless rides in multiple cities including san Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas.
Unlike Waymo, which integrates its technology into vehicles from traditional automakers, Zoox manufactures its uniquely designed robotaxis at a facility in Hayward, California - approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of san Francisco. The company aims to produce up to 10,000 robotaxis annually as it expands into new markets.
Zoox is currently operating around 50 vehicles, primarily in Las Vegas, with ongoing testing in San Francisco. The company anticipates offering rides to the general public in San Francisco next year, with some testing program participants potentially receiving driverless rides before the end of 2024. Future expansion plans include austin and miami.
