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Amazon-owned AV company Zoox is set to deploy multiple purpose-built autonomous vehicles in San Francisco and Las Vegas in the upcoming weeks. Co-founder and CTO Jesse Levinson made the announcement at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. The initial rides will be offered to employees in the SoMa neighborhood of San Francisco and on the Las Vegas Strip. Zoox has reached the necessary safety standards to launch the service.
Zoox’s Journey and Future Plans
Levinson mentioned that Zoox has endured the ups and downs of the autonomous vehicle industry over the past decade. After being acquired by Amazon four years ago, Zoox revealed its purpose-built robotaxi. The company plans to adopt a cautious approach to introducing its robotaxi service, collaborating closely with local and federal safety regulators. In the next few weeks, Zoox will have a fleet of robotaxis across Foster City, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, with plans for significant expansion in the coming year. The production of vehicles on a large scale is scheduled to commence in 2026.
Explorer Program and Expansion
Zoox will initiate an “explorer” program for early riders to use the robotaxis for free before opening the service to paying customers. Early riders will gain access to the vehicles in Las Vegas early next year. The AVs will operate during the busiest hours of the day, excluding the early morning hours. Zoox aims to expand beyond the SoMa neighborhood in San Francisco and venture into surrounding cities like Foster City. In Las Vegas, Zoox is collaborating with various resort-hotels along the strip for passenger pick-ups and drop-offs. The company plans to scale geographically and enlarge its fleet. Zoox assembles its robotaxis in-house at facilities in Fremont and Hayward, California, using components from global suppliers.
