11/11/2024
Amazon's zoox has made big advancements this year in its journey to launch autonomous ride-hailing, now expanding its robotaxi testing to San Francisco and widening its operational area in Las Vegas. Testing has kicked off in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, where Zoox's purpose-built, pedal-free robotaxi will initially be available to employees only. This expansion into San Francisco marks Zoox's second commercial market, building on its progress since 2017 when it first began testing autonomous vehicles in the city with safety drivers onboard.
Zoox’s operations in Las Vegas are also growing, now covering a larger geofenced area that includes The Strip, known for its high-traffic complexity with multi-lane streets, pedestrian flow, and challenging intersections. This environment allows Zoox to rigorously test and refine its AI technology in real-world scenarios. Zoox plans to launch full commercial services in Las Vegas by late 2025, with early rides open to non-employees starting in early 2025 through an "early rider" program.