Zoox's Autonomous Pod Without A Steering Wheel Wants Your Money Now

The Story

Zoox said that it will start charging for rides in Las Vegas on August 10. It’s the first time this kind of vehicle has been put into commercial service.

Amazon-owned Zoox plans to launch its commercial robotaxi service on August 10. The first paid rides will happen in Las Vegas. Zoox got an exemption from motor vehicle standards last week that allows it to operate its funky autonomous pod commercially.

Zoox plans to make history by being the first company to operate a commercial robotaxi service using a vehicle without conventional driver controls. On Wednesday, the company said it will kick off its paid service in Las Vegas on August 10. Amazon-owned Zoox has been ferrying passengers around in its futuristic, rectangular pods for about a year now. But those rides were…

This federal exemption is temporary. It lasts two years and allows for up to 2,500 vehicles to be deployed annually. All of its robotaxis will be “subject to an enhanced, adaptable oversight structure that can evolve as Zoox’s technology advances,” according to the NHTSA. How much will it cost?. Zoox hasn’t released specific pricing just yet, but it shared a bit about how…

Zoox says fares will be fully visible by customers before booking the ride, fees included. And the fare will be based on the best route, so if the robotaxi takes a longer route than initially intended at the time of booking, customers won’t be charged extra. It’s still very early days for Zoox’s robotaxi business. But charging for rides in Vegas is a major step forward for the…

Why It Matters

Zoox plans to make history by being the first company to operate a commercial robotaxi service using a vehicle without conventional driver controls.

CarMotion Daily’s Take

All of its robotaxis will be “subject to an enhanced, adaptable oversight structure that can evolve as Zoox’s technology advances,” according to the NHTSA. Watch this space over the coming weeks.