Prime Highlights:
- Amazon’s Zoox has officially launched its robotaxi service in the U.S., starting with free rides on the Las Vegas Strip.
- The company aims to expand into more U.S. cities, making it a strong new player in the growing self-driving taxi market.
Key Facts:
- Zoox was acquired by Amazon in 2020 for $1.3 billion and is now rolling out its first rides in Las Vegas.
- The self-driving vehicle is fully autonomous, has no steering wheel or pedals, and can run for up to 16 hours on a single charge.
Key Background:
Amazon’s Zoox has launched in the U.S., providing free rides on the Las Vegas Strip. The launch marks Amazon’s first step into a sector currently led by Alphabet’s Waymo, which has been offering commercial driverless rides since 2020.
Amazon purchased Zoox in 2020 for $1.3 billion, and it is now giving rides at places in Las Vegas such as Top Golf, Resorts World, and Luxor. While rides are free for now, the company plans to charge fares once it secures regulatory approval. Zoox plans to expand next to San Francisco, Austin, and Miami, while tests are already happening in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Seattle.
Zoox’s vehicle is fully autonomous, without any steering wheel or pedals. It has two rows of seats facing each other, big floor-to-ceiling windows, and can operate for up to 16 hours on one charge. CEO Aicha Evans said the vehicle was designed completely for passengers, not just adapted from a regular car.
Unlike competitors like Waymo and Tesla, Zoox builds its vehicles from scratch. The company creates new car parts using advanced methods such as 3D printing, instead of modifying existing cars. “It’s built from the ground up around the rider,” Evans said, highlighting the company’s focus on safety, comfort, and innovation.
Safety is a top focus for Zoox. Since 2019, Zoox has been running trials in Las Vegas and San Francisco. Minor incidents, like a slow collision with an e-scooter, have been fixed through software updates. Co-founder Jesse Levinson said, “Our goal is not perfection but to be much safer than human drivers.”
The Las Vegas launch reflects Amazon’s long-term plans. The company has invested heavily in Zoox, including a large manufacturing facility in Hayward, California, that can produce thousands of vehicles each year. Zoox is emerging as a powerful force in the self-driving taxi market with its own design of vehicles, emphasis on safety, and gradual rollout strategy.
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