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Amazon’s Zoox Robotaxi Debuts Free Rides on Las Vegas Strip

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Amazon-owned Zoox has officially opened its robotaxi service to the public in Las Vegas, offering free rides on and around the Strip while awaiting regulatory approval to charge fares. The move positions Zoox against established rivals like Alphabet’s Waymo and Tesla in the race for autonomous ride-hailing dominance.

Key Details

  • Vehicle design: Unlike competitors, Zoox uses a purpose-built, fully autonomous pod with no steering wheel or pedals. Passengers sit facing each other, resembling a futuristic shuttle.

  • Free service: Current rides are complimentary to help familiarize the public and gather feedback.

  • Fleet: About 50 vehicles are in Zoox’s Las Vegas fleet, with thousands of riders each week during its casino-based test loop.

  • Expansion: Zoox plans to extend services soon to San Francisco, with future rollouts in Miami, Austin, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.

Industry Context

  • Waymo already runs paid robotaxi services in multiple U.S. cities with a fleet of around 2,000 vehicles.

  • Tesla operates a small number of robotaxis with safety drivers in Austin and has begun a Bay Area ride-hailing service.

  • Uber is also entering the space, integrating autonomous vehicles into its network through partnerships.

  • Commercializing robotaxis has been tough, with regulatory scrutiny, protests, and high costs forcing many startups to exit the field. Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020, betting on the long-term payoff.

Outlook

Zoox expects to begin charging fares within months once it secures regulatory approval. With its unique design and Amazon’s backing, Zoox could emerge as a serious challenger in the still-nascent robotaxi market, provided it scales safely and wins public trust.

Uber and Momenta to Launch Level 4 Self-Driving Tests in Munich in 2026

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Uber and Chinese autonomous driving firm Momenta announced Monday that they will begin testing Level 4 self-driving vehicles in Munich, Germany, starting next year. The move marks Uber’s latest push to expand its robotaxi business beyond the U.S. and China.

Level 4 autonomy refers to vehicles capable of fully automated driving within defined conditions, though regulators still require safety oversight. Germany has emerged as a key testbed for autonomous mobility, with favorable legal frameworks and major automakers advancing the technology.

Uber has sought to secure its place in the robotaxi race through partnerships with Waymo (Alphabet), Lucid, and WeRide, while rivals like Tesla are also scaling their autonomous taxi services.

For its part, Momenta brings significant real-world experience. Its driver-assistance technology is already deployed in 400,000 vehicles globally through automaker partnerships. The collaboration with Uber, first announced in May, aims to accelerate deployment in international markets outside the U.S. and China.

The launch in Munich underscores the intensifying global competition in autonomous mobility, even as regulators maintain tight scrutiny following high-profile accidents in the sector.

US Auto Safety Agency Reviews Tesla’s Responses on Robotaxi Safety Ahead of Deployment

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The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently reviewing Tesla’s answers regarding the safety of its upcoming robotaxi service, particularly how the self-driving vehicles will perform in poor weather conditions. This review comes ahead of Tesla’s planned limited launch of its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, which could begin as early as this weekend.

Tesla has reportedly invited a small group of people to participate in a test of the robotaxi service, with posts and screenshots on social media showing that a Tesla employee will accompany riders in the front passenger seat. NHTSA had requested detailed information from Tesla by June 19 to better understand the company’s safety protocols and technology for the robotaxi rollout.

The agency’s ongoing probe covers 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, following multiple collisions in reduced visibility conditions, including a fatal crash in 2023. NHTSA’s questions focus on how Tesla plans to ensure safety in challenging conditions such as fog, sun glare, rain, dust, or snow, and what the vehicle’s response would be if such conditions arise during a ride.

Additionally, the agency has sought clarity on how many vehicles will be deployed as robotaxis and the timeline for wider availability, especially for vehicles operated by third parties rather than Tesla directly. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has emphasized a strong safety focus for the upcoming trial, with humans remotely monitoring the vehicles during operations.

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and NHTSA said it will update the public file once its review is complete.