Zoox, Amazon’s robotaxi company, just unveiled an updated version of its self-driving ride.
The company says the newest model is the “next evolution” of its purpose-built robotaxi and is set to enter large-scale production soon.
The update comes as Zoox prepares to more directly enter the robotaxi industry that’s currently dominated by Alphabet’s Waymo. But unlike Waymo, which uses modified passenger vehicles, Zoox says it designed its robotaxis from the ground up to deliver a truly driverless ride-hailing experience. Since the vehicles are built around riders, not drivers, they do not have traditional controls like a steering wheel or pedals. That gives Zoox’s robotaxi its unique boxy, toaster-on-wheels look.
The company is still waiting on approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to deploy these steering-wheel-less robotaxis commercially.
Amazon acquired Zoox for about $1.3 billion back in 2020. Since then, the company has started offering free rides in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco and has also begun testing in other cities, including Austin and Miami. Zoox says the updates to the vehicle come from lessons learned during testing and feedback from half a million riders.
“The updates we’ve made to this iteration of our purpose-built robotaxi continue to further distinguish the Zoox experience from anything else available today,” said Chris Stoffel, Zoox director of robot industrial design and studio engineering, in a press release. “The simplicity of the elevated interior design does not demand a rider’s attention like so many of the features found in today’s passenger cars. Instead, riders can relax and enjoy the space as they are transported throughout the city.”
The new model now features what the company describes as a calmer interior palette, with aloe-green seating and stone-gray flooring and trim. Zoox says the new interior should also make it easier for riders to spot personal items before they exit the vehicle. The seats also now have extra padding and more ergonomic curves for added comfort. The interior is also equipped with larger cupholders, a more vivid touchscreen, and a redesigned charging pad meant to keep phones from sliding around during rides.
On the outside, Zoox has repositioned its bidirectional reflectors to help passengers more easily tell the front and back of the vehicle apart.
This latest model is the company’s production-intent vehicle and is headed for large-scale production at Zoox’s production facility in California. The company says it can crank production up to 100 vehicles per week, depending on regulatory approval. These updated vehicles are expected to join Zoox’s existing fleet later this year.
Still, Zoox has a long way to go before it catches up with its main competitor. Waymo already operates a fleet of over 3,000 robotaxis and recently said its service area would soon cover more than 1,400 square miles across 11 cities. The company bragged that its coverage area will eventually be larger than the entire state of Rhode Island, which is roughly 1,200 square miles. The company also has plans to expand internationally, starting with London and Tokyo.
Uber has also been trying to get into the robotaxi game through partnerships with Lucid, Nuro, and Rivian.
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