Exploring the Future: Riding in Amazon’s Zoox Robotaxi

Exploring Amazon’s Zoox Robotaxi Service in Las Vegas

During a recent visit to Las Vegas, the GeekWire team had the opportunity to experience Amazon’s Zoox robotaxi service first-hand.

The consensus among the team was overwhelmingly positive, with the ride being described as smooth, futuristic, and safe amidst the chaos of Las Vegas.

Zoox, acquired by Amazon in 2020, operates as an independent subsidiary focused on autonomous vehicle technology and urban mobility.

Unlike its competitors, Zoox designed its robotaxi from scratch, creating a compact, bidirectional electric pod without a steering wheel or pedals.

The experience of calling a Zoox vehicle via the app was seamless, with quick pick-up and a starfield display inside the cab adding to the magical feel.

Comparisons were drawn to other autonomous vehicle experiences, with Zoox standing out for its unique design and group-friendly seating arrangement.

Despite some minor quibbles about service area limitations, the overall consensus was overwhelmingly positive, with the Zoox ride being likened to a fun group experience in a moving living room.

Looking ahead, Zoox has plans to expand to other cities as regulations and technology evolve, with a focus on public ridership and potential integration into Amazon’s logistics operations.

With a successful launch in Las Vegas, Zoox is poised for further growth and innovation in the autonomous vehicle space.

Editor’s note: GeekWire Studios is the content production arm of GeekWire, creating sponsored videos, podcasts, and other paid projects for a variety of companies and organizations, separate from GeekWire’s independent news coverage. GeekWire Studios had a booth at re:Invent, recording segments with Amazon partners in partnership with AWS. Learn more about GeekWire Studios.