Amazon's self-driving car unit, Zoox, has launched a free robotaxi service in San Francisco, offering rides in select neighbourhoods to those on a waiting list. The move is aimed at challenging Waymo, Google's autonomous vehicle arm, which currently leads the market.
The service, announced on Tuesday, is limited to a few major areas of the city and uses Zoox's distinctive gondola-shaped vehicles, which have no steering wheel. This expansion follows the launch of a similar service along the Las Vegas strip less than three months ago.
Zoox does not charge for rides, unlike Waymo, which has been charging fares since its debut in Phoenix five years ago. The free rides are a precursor to eventually charging fares, pending approval from California regulators. Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.2bn in 2020 to enter the autonomous driving market.
Waymo received regulatory approval to charge for rides in San Francisco in August 2023, and its robotaxis are now a common sight in the city. Waymo also operates in San Jose, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin, with plans to expand to New York, Washington DC, and London next year.
Zoox aims to expand to other major cities, including Austin and Miami. Amazon has converted a former bus factory in Hayward, California, into a robotaxi plant, with a target of producing up to 10,000 vehicles annually.
