Milestones
- Robotaxi unveiledDec 2020Complete.
- Free public rides in Las VegasSep 2025Complete.
- NHTSA exemption for paid rides31 Jul 2026Complete.
- Paid rides begin in Las Vegas10 Aug 2026Complete.
- Paid rides in more citiesNowCurrent milestone.
Most important updates
- 3 Sep 2026
- 10 Aug 2026
- 30 Jul 2026
- 18 Nov 2025
- Sep 2025
Current obstacles
- Scaling beyond the exemptionThe exemption caps fleet size; wider rollout needs updated federal safety rules.
Physics limits
- Reaction time eats distanceSensing, predicting and acting take a fraction of a second; at 45 mph a car covers ~2 m every 100 ms. Faster speeds demand seeing and predicting further ahead.
- Rain, fog and snow blind sensorsWater droplets scatter the infrared light lidar uses and blur cameras, so sensing range shrinks exactly when stopping distances grow. Radar sees through but only in coarse detail.
- Proving safety takes vast mileageUS drivers average about one fatal crash per 100 million miles. Showing a robot driver is safer with statistical confidence takes hundreds of millions of driverless miles (RAND estimated ~275M).
How it works
Drives either way
Symmetrical design with four-wheel steering means no reverse gear or three-point turns; it just drives off in the other direction.
A pod on every corner
Lidar, radar, cameras and thermal cameras sit on all four corners, each seeing about 270°, so the car sees all around with overlap.
Built without controls
There is no steering wheel or pedals. Safety systems like braking and steering are designed with backups, since no human can take over.
TeleGuidance
When confused, the robotaxi asks a remote operator for a suggested path, but the car still does all the driving itself.
Spec sheet
| Spec | Zoox robotaxi |
|---|---|
| Seats | 4 (face-to-face)R (reported) |
| Top speed | ~75 mphR (reported) |
| Exemption cap | 2,500 vehicles / yearR (reported) |
| Manual controls | NoneR (reported) |
R reported by the company
Peer comparison
| Spec | Zoox robotaxi | Tesla Cybercab |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 (face-to-face)R (reported) | 2R (reported) |
| Manual controls | NoneR (reported) | NoneR (reported) |
R reported by the company
Update log
Thu 3 Sep
- Minor: PressCommercial
Mon 10 Aug
- Major: PressCommercial
Thu 30 Jul
- Major: RegulatorRegulatory
Tue 18 Nov 2025
- Major: BlogCommercial
Sep 2025
- Major: BlogCommercial
Wed 6 Aug 2025
- Major: RegulatorRegulatory
Mon 14 Dec 2020
- Major: PressHardware
About Zoox
Zoox
Purpose-built robotaxi that drives both ways
Amazon-owned Zoox builds its own robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals; it drives either direction and seats four face to face. In July 2026 it won the first US exemption for paid rides in such a car and began charging fares in Las Vegas.
- Free public rides in Las Vegas from September 2025, then San Francisco, Austin and Miami.
- NHTSA exemption (31 Jul 2026–31 Jul 2028) allows up to 2,500 vehicles a year and paid rides.
- Paid rides in Las Vegas began in August 2026.
- Founded
- 201412 yrs
- Headquarters
- United States
- Status
- Subsidiaryof Amazon
- Valuation
- Amazon-owned
- Works in
- VehiclesRobotaxis
- Coverage
- 1 program · 8 updateslatest 3 Sep 2026checked 25 Sep
- Acquired by
- Amazon (opens aboutamazon.com)
- People
- Aicha Evans (opens en.wikipedia.org)CEOJesse LevinsonCo-founder and CTO