Zoox has officially begun offering (free) robotaxi rides to the general public around LasVegas

Bespoke robotaxi developer Zoox officially launched driverless rides around the Las Vegas Strip today. The milestone follows months of testing in the area, and the initial rides are free for the general public.

In the eleven years since its incorporation, Zoox, Inc. has taken a unique and exciting approach to rideshare transportation. Instead of building a robotaxi fleet using existing vehicles retrofitted with autonomous driving technology, Zoox introduced its own novel electric vehicle early.

While most of the company’s initial test fleet consisted of existing vehicles equipped with sensors and cameras, we have closely followed the development, testing, and implementation of Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxis, which is designed without pedals or a steering wheel.

In the past, those unique Zoox EVs could be seen testing around the San Francisco Bay Area and the Las Vegas Strip, where the robotaxi network has been testing for over two years now. That initial route in Sin City consisted of a one-mile loop near Zoox’s Las Vegas headquarters, offering the ability to transport up to four passengers at speeds up to 35 mph.

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At the time, initial test rides were conducted by Zoox employees before “expanding over the coming months.” By March 2024, Zoox had upped the robotaxi’s top speed to 45 mph in Las Vegas and expanded operational hours to include nighttime driving and service under light rain and damp road conditions. 

Following these expansions, Zoox said it was closer than ever to commercial operations and paid customer rides. Today, the robotaxi provider has reached that milestone in Vegas, offering the general public free rides in its purpose-built vehicles (an industry first).

According to a blog post from Zoox this morning, it is celebrating becoming the first company in history to provide fully autonomous ride-hailing services to the public using a purpose-built robotaxi. Las Vegas is the perfect backdrop for Zoox’s unique ride-hailing experience, as its robotaxis could help transport some of the city’s 40 million annual visitors. Per Zoox CEO Aicha Evans:

The autonomous vehicle industry has made remarkable strides this year, bringing us closer to a future of safer, more accessible mobility. With the launch of our fully driverless ride-hailing service using a purposefully designed robotaxi, we’re thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking journey. Las Vegas is a city famous for unforgettable moments, and it is the ideal location for our debut. Zoox is about transforming the entire ride-hailing experience, making every ride a delightful experience

Starting today, September 10, you can download the Zoox app to your iOS or Android device and hail one of the company’s truly driverless robotaxi operating in Las Vegas. To begin, all rides are free, so early passengers can “become familiar with Zoox, our service, and share their feedback” before the company scales to paid rides, which still requires regulatory approval.

Looking ahead, Zoox said customers can also join the waitlist for robotaxi rides in San Francisco. The company hasn’t announced a launch date for the Bay Area yet, but said more details are coming soon. Here’s a little peek at the Zoox robotaxi in action around Las Vegas: