Amazon.com Inc.’s Zoox robotaxi division will start charging fares next week in Las Vegas, marking a first in the U.S. for autonomous vehicles without driver controls.
Zoox will charge Vegas customers starting Aug. 10, with fares calculated from a base rate, the company said in a statement Wednesday. The trip cost will also take into account distance and the duration of each trip. Zoox declined to reveal more fare specifics.
Related: Waymos Are Way Safer Than Human Drivers, IIHS Finds
Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo is the clear leader in U.S. robotaxis, operating the largest commercial driverless ride-hailing service, with rivals including Tesla Inc. and Amazon’s Zoox looking to catch up. But unlike Zoox robotaxis, Waymo vehicles feature a steering wheel and pedals.
Last month, regulators gave Zoox permission to deploy as many as 5,000 robotaxis on U.S. roads over the next two years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s temporary exemption also lets Zoox charge per ride.
Related: Amazon’s Zoox Wins First US Approval for Paid Robotaxis Without Human Controls
The full fare will be visible to riders prior to booking. To date, Zoox’s bug-eyed, boxy robotaxi has driven over 3 million miles on public roads. Prior to commercial launch, it carried 1 million riders across Las Vegas, San Francisco, Austin and Miami.
Top photo: A Zoox autonomous robotaxi in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Bloomberg.
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