No steering wheel, no pedals, no problem. Zoox announced Wednesday that it's partnering with Uber to make its robotaxis available on the ride-hailing company's app in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, pending US government approval.
The multiyear partnership, announced by Zoox and Uber on Wednesday, would enable Uber customers to get rides on Zoox robotaxis in Vegas this summer and in LA in 2027. After the partnership launches, the app will match riders with robotaxis on eligible trips, Uber said in a statement. Zoox will also offer rides on its robotaxis through its own app, so customers can use either the Uber or Zoox app to ride in the vehicles.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called Zoox an "ideal partner" in a statement.
"The Zoox robotaxi is unlike any other vehicle on the planet -- it was purpose-built from the ground up to deliver an extraordinary experience," Khosrowshahi said. "Zoox's commitment to safety and their advanced autonomous driving technology make them an ideal partner. We're thrilled to work together to introduce more riders to the future of mobility."
Zoox, founded in 2014 and acquired by Amazon in 2020, currently offers free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco during its demonstration phase of service. The company said its robotaxis have logged more than 1 million miles for more than 300,000 riders.
Zoox is also conducting tests in six other cities -- Seattle, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Austin, Texas -- and announced earlier this week that Dallas and Phoenix are next. Only people in San Francisco and Las Vegas can currently get test rides through the Zoox app.
"We're taking a measured, step-by-step approach by starting small, learning quickly, and scaling responsibly," Zoox said in its announcement Wednesday. "This partnership with Uber will mirror that approach, beginning with a controlled deployment with the potential to expand as we refine our operations, technology, and customer experience."
Watch this: This Robotaxi Looks and Drives Like No Car You've Ever Seen Before 11:09
No steering wheel
The Zoox is a fully autonomous vehicle that can carry up to four passengers (PDF). It has no steering wheel, no accelerator or brake pedals, and is bidirectional, meaning it can go forward and reverse by simply switching which end of the car is considered the front. There are touchscreens and emergency call buttons. Zoox had early issues with erratic braking that caused injuries and a crash, but addressed the issue through software updates during the ensuing investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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