Zoox launched its fully autonomous ride-hailing services in Las Vegas on Wednesday, marking a milestone for the Amazon-owned company.
It’s the first official city for Zoox, which joins Waymo and Tesla in the robotaxi race. Alphabet’s Waymo offers rides in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin. Tesla recently launched in Austin.
Zoox will offer free rides on and around the Las Vegas Strip as it awaits regulatory approval for paid service.
In a blog post, Zoox says it is the first company to provide self-driving rides in a “purpose-built robotaxi.” CNBC notes that it’s also known as a “toaster on wheels.” Waymo has taken a different route, partnering with carmakers including Jaguar and Hyundai.
Zoox plans to launch in San Francisco next, with other cities on its list.
Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020. The business operates within the tech giant’s devices and service business.
Zoox is entering the robotaxi market well behind Waymo, which plans to expand to Miami, Washington, D.C., and Dallas next year. Waymo also last week began rolling out vehicles in the Seattle area — right in Amazon’s backyard — as part of new tests.
Last month Zoox won an exemption from federal regulators to demonstrate its robotaxis on public roads.
