Zoox Launches Public Robotaxi Service in Las Vegas
▼ Summary
– Zoox has launched its robotaxi service for all customers in Las Vegas, marking the first commercial use of purpose-built autonomous vehicles.
– The service is currently limited to specific destinations on the Las Vegas Strip, with plans to expand gradually over time.
– The vehicles are fully driverless, lack traditional controls, and feature bench seating and multiple sensors, with a top speed of 45 mph.
– Zoox is also testing in other cities and plans to deploy 50 vehicles across Las Vegas and San Francisco, where it has a waitlist for future service.
– Rides can be booked via an app with features like wait times and remote assistance, though some testers have noted discomfort with the seating.
Amazon’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary Zoox has officially opened its driverless taxi service to the general public in Las Vegas, marking a significant milestone in commercial autonomous transportation. The company proudly claims this as the first commercial deployment of a purpose-built autonomous vehicle without traditional controls like pedals or steering wheels. This public launch follows recent federal approval allowing Zoox to expand its demonstration operations.
Starting immediately, passengers can book rides in Zoox’s distinctive toaster-shaped vehicles along the Las Vegas Strip. The service currently operates with limited pickup and drop-off locations, including prominent destinations such as Resort World Las Vegas, AREA15, and Topgolf. Zoox has indicated it will gradually add more stops as the service expands. Each vehicle features bench seating arranged facing inward, allowing passengers to sit across from one another during their journey.
These fully driverless taxis are equipped with extensive sensor arrays including cameras, lidar, and radar systems for navigation. For safety reasons, the vehicles are programmed not to exceed 45 miles per hour during operation. Riders can request trips through the Zoox mobile application, which provides real-time updates on wait times, vehicle identification details, and a feedback system. Both the app and the vehicle itself include help buttons that connect users to remote support operators if assistance is needed.
Zoox has established dedicated pickup zones at partner locations, with Resort World and AREA15 providing special “Zoox concierge” staff to assist passengers. The company currently plans to deploy approximately 50 vehicles across Las Vegas and San Francisco, where it is also building a waitlist for future service expansion. While Zoox holds testing permits in several cities including San Francisco, Foster City, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Austin, Nevada represents its first commercial market.
Early testers have noted some comfort concerns, particularly regarding the firmness of the seating, though the overall performance has generally received positive feedback. The current service operates on predetermined routes rather than offering completely dynamic routing, indicating that while this launch represents substantial progress, fully autonomous point-to-point service remains in development. Zoox spokesperson Marissa Wigam confirmed that the fleet size will gradually increase to meet growing passenger demand.
(Source: The Verge)
