is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.
Amazon’s Zoox announced today that it’s making its robotaxis available to all customers in Las Vegas. The company says it is the first to operate with a purpose-built autonomous vehicle in public service. And the news comes a few weeks after federal regulators gave the company the green light to expand the use of its robotaxis for demonstration purposes.
Zoox says that its toaster-shaped AVs will be available for passenger trips on the Las Vegas Strip starting today. The vehicles are limited to pickups and dropoffs at only a handful of destinations, including Resort World Las Vegas, AREA15, Topgolf, New York New York, Luxor, and other “resort and entertainment properties.” The company says it will be adding new destinations as it gradually expands it service. And the rides will be free while the company waits for regulatory approval before it can charge for the service.
Zoox’s robotaxis are fully driverless insofar as they lack traditional controls like pedals and steering wheels. Instead, the interior of the vehicle features bench seats positioned on either side, so passengers face each other while they ride. The exterior is covered in sensors, including cameras, lidar, and radar. The vehicles typically won’t exceed 45 mph when in operation.
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