Zoox has announced the “next evolution” of its toaster robotaxi.
Zoox
AmazonZoox on Wednesday unveiled the “next evolution” of its toaster-style self-driving car, adding more rider-friendly features ahead of a broader rollout in the U.S. this year.
The company said its vehicles are equipped with higher-quality touchscreens, more comfortable seats and headrests, and minor interior adjustments to help passengers find forgotten items such as keys and phones.
Zoox is also expanding and repositioning the robotaxi’s “two-way reflectors,” which help passengers, law enforcement and other parties distinguish between the front and rear of the vehicle, making it easier to spot them.
The update comes as Zoox plans to expand into further markets and prepares to start charging for rides later this year. The company, which Amazon acquired for $1.3 billion in 2020, is far behind. of the alphabet Waymo, the US robotaxis giant.
Waymo recently surpassed 500,000 weekly paid rides in 10 U.S. cities. It also plans to offer commercial services in several new cities this year, including London and Tokyo, its first international markets. In response, Zoox announced Wednesday that it has served more than 500,000 passengers since launching in Las Vegas last September.
Zoox’s redesigned robotaxis feature more comfortable seats and headrests, as well as small interior touches to help passengers find lost items.
Zoox
Zoox currently offers free rides in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco, and allows some users to hail robotaxis in small areas in Miami and Austin, Texas. Testing is also underway in six other U.S. cities.
In March, Zoox partnered with: Uber The company will make robotaxis available in Las Vegas through its ride-hailing app, allowing it to reach a wider potential customer base.
Zoox robotaxis are nicknamed “toasters” because of their shape. The vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals and features four carriage-shaped seats facing inward, giving it a shuttle-like feel.
Zoox’s biggest hurdle remains launching a paid service. The company is awaiting approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to put up to 2,500 self-driving cars on public roads for commercial purposes.
Zukes’ petition is currently under review by NHTSA after public comment ended in early April.
Zoox said Wednesday that the redesigned robotaxi is its “production vehicle” and that the company plans to introduce the model to its existing fleet later this year.
The company added that it will soon begin large-scale production of robotaxis at its San Francisco Bay Area manufacturing facility, which opened last June. The facility will help Zoox expand its robotaxi fleet, ultimately producing 10,000 vehicles per year at full scale.
Video: Amazon launches Zoox robotaxis in Las Vegas and we take a ride
