Visitors to CES this week had the opportunity to take a good look at an unusual local: a boxy little autonomous robotaxi designed and operated by Amazon subsidiary Zoox. Zoox has been testing on the Strip since November, though it began driving its purpose-built vehicle on Vegas public roads around its local headquarters back in summer 2023. This year, Zoox aims to begin offering service to the public, first though a “Zoox Explorer” program that allows outside riders to try the service for free.
Unlike Waymo’s robotaxis, which today are computerized Jaguar EVs, Zoox’s AV doesn’t have a steering wheel, driver’s seat, or pedals. Its seats face inward, and the vehicle is designed to drive in either direction, fore or aft. It’s a whole new spin on car design for the self-driving age. (Controversially, the company hasn’t received any regulatory approval for its design quirks; the company says it has self-certified that the vehicle meets federal road criteria.)
Though Zoox has spent years in Vegas at this point, its true headquarters are in Foster City, California, and the company has started testing on public roads in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood as well. As Waymo ramps up service in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, Zoox feels like a distant second. But look at that cute thing: It’s definitely there! —Aarian Marshall
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