Amazon-Owned Zoox Unveils Purpose-Built Robotaxi for Passenger Ride-Hailing
Zoox officially reveals its long-awaited autonomous vehicle, proving the robotaxi is real hardware rather than vaporware. The Amazon-owned company focuses entirely on passenger transportation with a new bidirectional car featuring advanced safety systems.
Zoox officially unveils its long-awaited autonomous vehicle, proving the robotaxi is real hardware rather than just vaporware. The Amazon-owned startup reveals a custom-built, bidirectional car that features a 133 kWh battery, a 16-hour run-time, and a top speed of 75 miles per hour. This launch shows that Amazon is serious about entering the autonomous vehicle space now that competitors like Uber are stepping away from robotaxi development.
The newly revealed vehicle focuses entirely on passenger ride-hailing rather than package delivery. It boasts advanced safety features, including a unique wrap-around airbag system that Zoox claims provides protection comparable to a traditional vehicle with a five-star crash rating. The interior design comfortably seats four passengers facing each other, creating a social ride-hailing experience optimized for short to medium urban trips.
Despite the exciting hardware reveal, the actual launch date for the Zoox ride-hailing service remains unannounced. The company also declines to share the exact driving range of the vehicle, emphasizing its 16-hour continuous operation capability instead. As Zoox holds the distinction of being the first company to receive California's permission for fully autonomous passenger pick-ups, all the necessary pieces are aligning for a driverless future, though the public still has to wait for the actual service to go live.