Zoox Expands Robotaxi Service to Austin and Miami
▼ Summary
– Zoox, an Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company, is expanding its service area in San Francisco and Las Vegas and planning future service in Austin and Miami.
– The company uses a custom-built, fully driverless vehicle without traditional controls like pedals or a steering wheel, with passengers seated on facing benches.
– Zoox has driven nearly 2 million autonomous miles and provided approximately 350,000 free rides under a regulatory demonstration exemption.
– The service is introducing new app features, including improved ETAs, pre-booking, a vehicle locator, and personalized Bluetooth audio options.
– In Las Vegas, it is adding major destinations like the Convention Center and Strip hotels, while in San Francisco, it is quadrupling its service area to cover the eastern half of the city.
The autonomous vehicle company Zoox, owned by Amazon, is accelerating its expansion plans. The firm is preparing to grow its existing robotaxi service in San Francisco and Las Vegas while also targeting two major new markets: Austin and Miami. This strategic move signals a significant step in scaling its fully driverless operations.
Zoox stands apart in the industry by deploying a purpose-built autonomous vehicle that has no steering wheel or pedals. Since launching its customer service last year, the company reports its fleet has logged close to two million driverless miles and transported around 350,000 passengers. Rides are currently offered free of charge, as Zoox operates under a demonstration exemption from federal safety regulators.
The unique vehicle design features inward-facing bench seats, allowing passengers to sit across from one another. A comprehensive sensor suite of cameras, lidar, and radar covers the exterior, and the vehicles are programmed not to exceed 45 miles per hour. To enhance the rider experience, Zoox is rolling out several new app features. These include a refined ETA precision tool, pre-booking estimates, a “Find My Zoox” function for easier vehicle identification, and “ZooxCast” Bluetooth connectivity for personal audio.
In Las Vegas, the service area is being substantially widened. Beyond current partners like Resort World and AREA15, pickup and drop-off locations will now include the Las Vegas Convention Center and most major hotels along the Strip. High-demand destinations such as the Sphere and T-Mobile Arena are slated to be added soon.
The expansion in San Francisco is even more dramatic, with the service area quadrupling to cover the eastern half of the city. This growth will bring Zoox robotaxis to neighborhoods including the Marina, North Beach, Chinatown, and Pacific Heights, as well as along the Embarcadero.
For the newly announced cities of Austin and Miami, Zoox will begin with a cautious, phased approach. Initial testing will be limited to small geographic zones, with rides available only to employees and their guests. The service will later open to individuals on the company’s waitlist, which already boasts over half a million potential riders eager to experience the unique driverless taxi.
(Source: The Verge)