Amazon.com Inc.’s autonomous driving unit Zoox has started offering rides to the public in Las Vegas, marking a first in the U.S. for a purpose-built robotaxi with no driver controls.
Starting Wednesday, Zoox will offer trips in and around the Las Vegas, Nevada strip, initially for free. Rides can be summoned from a smartphone application, with staff on-hand at specific locations around the city to help with pick-ups and drop-offs.
The startup is also opening a waitlist for a similar service in San Francisco, where it has been testing its robotaxi system. The company has yet to say when it will offer rides or charge fares there, pending regulatory approvals.
Zoox has moved more slowly than rival robotaxi companies. Some already charge fares, ferrying passengers in vehicles with or without a human in the driver’s seat. Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo operates a ride hailing service in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, and runs a joint service with Uber Technologies Inc. in Austin and Atlanta.
More recently, Tesla Inc. began an autonomous service in Austin, using modified Model Y vehicles with a safety technician in the front passenger seat. On highways there, Tesla requires a safety driver to sit behind the wheel.
Most autonomous taxis are modified consumer cars with backup steering wheels and pedals. Zoox has opted for a true robotaxi without any driver controls. The vehicles have four inward-facing seats and are capable of bidirectional travel — meaning the front and back are interchangable. The company has ceded a first-mover advantage in the hopes that close cooperation with cities and regulators will prompt them to approve the vehicle.
Current federal regulations limit the number of vehicles that don’t have driver controls like steering wheels that a company can deploy on US roads. However Zoox’s ramp is likely to be slow and keep them well below the threshold as lawmakers consider new legislation for the technology.
To start, Zoox will offer pick-up and drop-off locations across various resorts, hotels and venues in Las Vegas. In the coming months, the company plans to gradually expand the operating area and offer more destinations.
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