Zoox Inc., the autonomous vehicle startup owned by Amazon.com Inc., has launched its first commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas, offering free public rides in purpose-built driverless vehicles.
The launch makes Zoox the first company worldwide to provide a ride-hailing service entirely with fully autonomous, custom-designed robotaxis. Rides can be booked via the Zoox app at destinations on and around the Las Vegas Strip, including Resorts World Las Vegas, AREA15, and Topgolf.
“Las Vegas is the ideal location for our debut,” CEO Aicha Evans said in a statement. “Zoox is about transforming the entire ride-hailing experience, making every ride a delightful experience.”
Zoox, founded in 2014 and acquired by Amazon in 2020, has spent more than a decade developing its bidirectional, carriage-style vehicle designed specifically for autonomy. Unlike Tesla Inc., which equips consumer cars with driver-assist systems, or Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving subsidiary that retrofits existing vehicles, Zoox’s approach has been to design a robotaxi from the ground up.
To start, rides in Las Vegas will be free while Zoox collects rider feedback. Paid trips will be introduced once regulators give approval. Dedicated pickup and drop-off zones are already in place at partner destinations, supported by on-site Zoox concierges.
“This was never about making a car drive itself,” said Jesse Levinson, Zoox co-founder and CTO. “It was about creating a new mode of transportation. Today’s launch is only the beginning, and we look forward to scaling across more U.S. markets.”
Las Vegas, which draws more than 40 million visitors annually, has become a proving ground for robotaxi firms. Waymo operates limited driverless services in Las Vegas and Phoenix, while Motional, a Hyundai–Aptiv joint venture, is testing autonomous ride-hailing in partnership with Lyft. Tesla, meanwhile, has promised a dedicated robotaxi vehicle but has yet to bring one to market.
Zoox’s entry, backed by Amazon’s deep pockets, adds a formidable competitor to an industry racing to prove the safety, scalability, and profitability of autonomous ride-hailing.