On the Dash:
- Zoox is expanding testing and limited public access in Austin and Miami as it scales robotaxi deployment.
- The company has served 350,000 riders and has about 500,000 people on its waitlist.
- Regulatory approval and production capacity remain key hurdles to launching the paid service.
Amazon’s Zoox is preparing to launch its robotaxi service to select members of the public in Austin and Miami later this year, as the company accelerates expansion of its autonomous vehicle operations.
The company said it will begin testing its purpose-built robotaxis, which have no steering wheel or pedals, in “a small area” of both cities. Initial access will be limited to employees and their family and friends until Zoox opens its Explorer program, which will allow the public to join a waitlist for rides.
Zoox, acquired by Amazon in 2020, has gradually expanded public access over the past year. The company began offering free driverless rides around the Las Vegas Strip and in select San Francisco neighborhoods last year. As of late March, Zoox said it had served 350,000 riders, with about 500,000 people joining its waitlist.
The expansion comes as Zoox works to compete with Alphabet’s Waymo, which currently provides 400,000 paid rides per week across six U.S. metro areas. Waymo operates commercially in 10 U.S. cities and is targeting further expansion to London and Tokyo this year.
Zoox is also expanding its existing service areas. In San Francisco, coverage will quadruple to include the Marina, North Beach, Chinatown, and Pacific Heights neighborhoods, along with the Embarcadero. The service previously operated in SoMa, Mission and Design districts.
In Las Vegas, Zoox expects to begin offering rides to high-traffic events at venues including the Sphere and T-Mobile Arena later this spring, with plans to add service to Harry Reid International Airport in the coming months.
The company is currently testing its autonomous technology in 10 U.S. cities and plans to expand to Atlanta and Los Angeles. Zoox said it will have 100 robotaxis operating on public roads as it scales service in Las Vegas and San Francisco and begins testing in Austin and Miami.
A key hurdle remains regulatory approval to launch a paid service. Zoox is awaiting a decision from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on its request to operate up to 2,500 self-driving vehicles commercially. The agency will issue a decision following a 30-day public comment period that began March 11.
Zoox is also forming partnerships to expand access. The company recently announced an agreement with Uber to offer robotaxis through its platform in Las Vegas starting this summer, though its own app will remain the primary booking method.
