Amazon subsidiary Zoox launches robotaxi service in San Francisco
Zoox launched its robotaxi service in San Francisco, so it comes as no surprise that the Amazon subsidiary is also rolling out its service in the ‘Golden City’. The company’s headquarters are located in the suburbs of the metropolis, the famous Bay Area. Zoox has also been testing the technology required for autonomous driving there since 2017. However, in recent years, a safety driver has still been at the wheel.
The tech company is launching the service with a so-called ‘Explorers programme’. As part of this programme, people on a waiting list are invited to take free rides. Zoox wants to use its feedback to further optimise the service before its regular market launch.
“Zoox has been testing our autonomous technology in San Francisco since 2017. It’s our home. A city of innovation and progress, with an amazing mobility ecosystem that we feel Zoox can really complement. We have seen incredible interest in Zoox in this market and are excited about this first step to bring our purpose-built robotaxi experience to more people,” says Zoox CEO Aicha Evans.
San Francisco is at the forefront of autonomous driving
As a tech capital, San Francisco is one of the pioneers of autonomous driving. Zoox is not the first company to operate a fleet of robotaxis there. Waymo started in 2021 with a waiting list, and since 2024, the service has been available to everyone.
General Motors subsidiary Cruise was also present in the cityscape of the Northern California metropolis with its self-driving Chevrolet Bolts. After an accident made negative headlines, the company abandoned its activities in this area.
Customers participating in the launch programme can use the service throughout the entire service area. This includes San Francisco’s Design District as well as the Mission and SoMa districts. When calling the vehicle, customers can either enter an address directly, set a point on the map, or select a point of interest suggested by Zoox.
The company launched its autonomous ride-hailing service in Las Vegas back in September. The famous Strip is at the heart of the desert metropolis. Passengers can use the robotaxis to shuttle back and forth between various fixed points. The network of pick-up locations is also to be gradually expanded there.
This article was first published by Elias Holdenried for electrive’s German edition.
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