Amazon's Zoox starts testing self-driving robotaxis on Las Vegas Strip

Zoox, a subsidiary of Amazon, announced on Monday that its self-driving robotaxis are now being tested on the Las Vegas Strip. For the time being, the only riders they’ll be transporting are company employees

"The Strip is one of the most highly trafficked areas in Las Vegas," Zoox noted. "It is full of complex driving scenarios, including more than eight lanes with multiple turning lanes, high speeds, heavy pedestrian traffic, and large-scale intersections. Deploying our robotaxi in this dynamic area will provide invaluable learnings for our AI stack and service as we prepare Zoox for its first riders."

While only Zoox employees will be able to ride for the time being to help refine the experience, the goal is to eventually welcome public riders next year as part of the 'Zoox Explorer' program, News3LV reported.

Zoox has also highlighted its 'early rider' program that will let riders provide "valuable feedback" to the company before it rolls out the facility for the public next year. These select riders will have the opportunity to ride with Zoox for free before its official launch to the public.

Zoox has been testing in Las Vegas since 2019. However, the robotaxis deployed last year were limited to operating on a one-mile loop around the company's headquarters. Testing has also taken place in San Francisco and Foster City, California.

If successful, Zoox will be the second company out of the robotaxi gate in Las Vegas. Last year, Motional launched a fully driverless taxi service that can be booked via the Lyft app, using robotaxis based on the Hyundai IONIQ 5.

Zoox was founded in 2014 by Tim Kentley-Klay and Jesse Levinson in Foster City, California, and was acquired by Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2020. As per local media reports, Zoox has reportedly partnered with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and could be transporting players and staff to T-Mobile Arena beginning next year.