Zoox introduces driverless robotaxi in Las Vegas

By Brian Will

(KLAS)— Zoox has introduced its driverless robotaxi, set to transport passengers from the Las Vegas Strip to various destinations across the valley.

Starting next year, passengers will be able to enjoy rides in Zoox’s driverless robotaxi around Las Vegas. Self-driving vehicles have been tested in the valley for years, but their size and scope have often been limited.

The robotaxi differs significantly from Zoox’s test vehicle. Since 2019, Zoox’s white test cars have been traversing the valley to map the roads for their fully autonomous robotaxi.

Since establishing their presence in the city, they have added hundreds of jobs and expanded their fleet of vehicles.

Las Vegas will be their first commercial operation in the country when they pick up their first passengers in 2025. These robots are built in California by Zoox and include a variety of features for passengers but most notably no spot for a driver.

“It has crab steering it’s a carriage-style vehicle, so you have four people that are able to sit inside and converse with each other. It has a very similar sensor architecture to the vehicles that are currently out on the road and that is why it is so important we have our retrofitted highlanders out on the street because we have to build that safety case,” Justin Windus, director of Fleet Operations in Las Vegas for Zoox said.

8 News Now was one of the first to ride along in the fully autonomous robotaxi.

The vehicle has a star-like ceiling, surrounded by windows along with state-of-the-art safety features. Those include seatbelts, a novel horseshoe-shaped airbag, and ways to communicate with a remote support team that can contact first responders if needed.

When the vehicles are on the road, Zoox’s remote staff can provide guidance and support to the vehicle or riders if alerted. Each vehicle is equipped with a variety of sensors, including radar, lidar, cameras, and thermal imaging sensors.

Zoox has partnered with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and could soon be transporting players and staff to the fortress along with regular passengers.

The company was acquired by Amazon in 2020. Zoox will be launching its commercial service in Las Vegas first, then San Francisco and other cities to follow. Zoox just started testing in Miami this summer.