Amazon Zoox Launches Robotaxi With Free Passengers In Las Vegas

JAKARTA - Amazon has officially introduced the robotaxi Zoox service to the public by offering free rides in Las Vegas. This driverless taxi service takes passengers to popular locations such as Resorts World Las Vegas, Area 15, and Topgolf. Currently, Zoox is still waiting for regulatory approval to start providing paid services in Los Angeles and expanding its operations to more cities in the US.

This launch marks Amazon's first step in delivering commercial autonomous transportation services in the United States. Zoox will compete fiercely with big players such as Google, Uber, Lucid, and Tesla's Waymo in a driverless taxi market. The announcement comes five months after Zoox began testing the robotaxi fleet in Los Angeles.

What makes Zoox different from its competitors is the design of its vehicle. This autonomous car is completely without manual control such as a steering wheel or pedal, and looks like a wheeled 'toaster'.

The chairs are arranged to face each other so as to create social experiences for passengers. This vehicle is designed to actually drive its own, by human interference only if requested by the system.

Zoox claims its robotaxi is capable of operating for 16 hours with one charge. Because the front and back of the car are identical and equipped with two-way wheels, this vehicle can move forward or backward without having to turn around.

The large windows feature from floor to roof also provides a tour experience for passengers who want to enjoy the views of the rows of casinos in Las Vegas.

Even so, Zoox roads in the US robotaxi market will not be easy. Waymo, which is a subsidiary of Alphabet, has dominated the market since 2020 and recently announced it has served more than 10 million paid trips in five cities.

After obtaining regulatory approval for paid services in Los Angeles, Zoox plans to launch an early rider program in San Francisco before the end of 2025.

Currently, the company is testing about 50 autonomous cars in San Francisco and Las Vegas. Austin and Miami will be the next cities Zoox will explore in the coming months.