Amazon’s Zoox has launched its robotaxi service in Las Vegas, opening the offering to the general public after two years of testing. The autonomous vehicles, which operate without a steering wheel, will provide free rides for at least the first few months to promote the new service. Riders can use the Zoox app to request transportation to five designated locations along the Las Vegas Strip, including Resorts World, Luxor hotel, and New York-New York hotel. Each vehicle can carry up to four passengers over distances of up to three miles.
Initially, Zoox limited access to employees and later their friends and family before expanding availability citywide. The company plans for eventual pricing similar to existing taxi and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft.
Amazon acquired Zoox five years ago for $1.2 billion as part of its strategy to expand into emerging technology sectors. Amazon’s financial resources—currently valued at about $2.5 trillion—allow Zoox to offer these free rides as it introduces its service in one of the country’s busiest tourist markets.
The Las Vegas launch is part of Zoox’s broader efforts to compete with Waymo, an Alphabet subsidiary that already operates driverless ride-hailing services in cities including San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin. Unlike Waymo—which uses vehicles from traditional automakers—Zoox manufactures its uniquely designed robotaxis at a facility in Hayward, California.
Looking ahead, Zoox aims to produce up to 10,000 robotaxis annually as it moves into more markets. The company is currently testing vehicles in San Francisco and expects some participants in its local program will receive driverless rides by year-end. Plans call for full passenger service in San Francisco beginning next year.
“Zoox can afford to give free rides largely because of Amazon’s deep pockets,” according to statements included with Wednesday’s announcement.
###
