Zoox upgrades robotaxi ahead of series production
Before starting series production, Zoox has further refined its four-passenger vehicle, which seats occupants facing each other. While the overall design remains largely unchanged, the company introduced a range of detail improvements. According to Zoox, these updates make the robotaxi more intuitive and user-friendly.
For example, Zoox has optimised and repositioned the reflectors, which can now change colour to clearly indicate the front and rear of the robotaxi. The company has also added a new speaker and microphone to the door interface and enhanced the two-way audio system to improve communication between passengers and the Zoox control centre.
Zoox has also updated the interior with a brighter colour palette, featuring solid aloe-green seats, a stone-grey floor and matching trim. According to the company, the simplified, harmonious design reduces visual distractions to create a more relaxing environment for passengers. Zoox has also refined the wireless charging pad, cup holders and flooring to make everyday items such as bags and mobile phones easier to find and less likely to be left behind.
“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, Director, Robot Industrial Design and Studio Engineering. “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.”
Since September 2025, Zoox has operated its driverless ride-hailing service in Las Vegas, followed by a launch in San Francisco, California, in November. The company has now announced that its purpose-built autonomous vehicle—designed without a steering wheel, pedals or a driver’s seat—is about to enter series production.
To this end, Zoox opened a 20,000-square-metre factory in Hayward, California, a year ago. While the facility has so far been used for pre-series production and continuous process optimisation, it is now ready to commence full-scale series production.
Zoox plans to gradually scale series production in Hayward to 100 vehicles per week, subject to regulatory approval. This would equate to an annual production capacity of 5,000 vehicles, though this will only be practical once Zoox expands its service to significantly more cities. According to earlier statements, the factory is even designed to produce up to 10,000 vehicles per year.
In addition to its initial markets of Las Vegas and San Francisco, Austin and Miami are set to follow soon. The roadmap also includes six further cities where Zoox is already conducting test drives: Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, and the capital, Washington, D.C.
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