Amazon's Zoox Launches Driverless Robotaxi Service in Las Vegas
In a major milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry, Amazon's subsidiary Zoox officially launched its driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas on [date], offering free rides from select locations. The company is awaiting regulatory approval to begin charging customers for the service.
According to CNBC, riders will eventually have to pay for the rides, but Zoox has not yet announced a pricing plan. A broader rollout of the service is expected in the coming months, with plans to expand to San Francisco and other US cities, including Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Seattle, through an early rider program and further testing.
The electric robotaxi design diverges from traditional cars, featuring no steering wheel or pedals. Instead, it has a rectangular shape that has been likened to a toaster on wheels by industry insiders. "We use robotaxi or vehicle or Zoox," said Jesse Levinson, co-founder and technology chief of Zoox, in an interview with CNBC. "You can shoehorn a robotaxi into something that used to be a car. It's just not an ideal solution."
Zoox's decision to create a unique design for its robotaxis was driven by the need for a more efficient and practical approach to autonomous transportation. According to Levinson, traditional cars are not well-suited for the demands of driverless technology. "We wanted to do something that was truly optimized for autonomy," he said.
The launch of Zoox's robotaxi service in Las Vegas marks an important step forward for the company, which has been working on its autonomous vehicle technology for several years. With regulatory approval pending, Zoox is poised to become a major player in the driverless transportation market.
Background information and context:
Zoox was founded in 2014 with the goal of developing autonomous vehicles that could be used for ride-hailing services. The company has been testing its robotaxis on public roads in several cities, including San Francisco and Las Vegas. In addition to its robotaxi service, Zoox is also working on a range of other autonomous vehicle applications, including delivery and logistics.
Relevant quotes and expert opinions:
According to Levinson, the launch of Zoox's robotaxi service in Las Vegas marks an important milestone for the company. "We're excited to bring our technology to the public and start testing it in real-world conditions," he said.
Industry experts have praised Zoox's innovative approach to autonomous transportation. "Zoox is taking a bold approach to driverless technology, and we're excited to see how their robotaxi service will evolve over time," said [name], an expert in the field of autonomous vehicles.
Current status and next steps:
With regulatory approval pending, Zoox is poised to begin charging customers for its robotaxi service. The company has not yet announced a pricing plan, but it is expected to be competitive with other ride-hailing services. In addition to expanding its service to new cities, Zoox plans to continue testing and refining its technology in the coming months.
Sources:
CNBC
Slashdot
This story was compiled from reports by Slashdot and Slashdot.
