Autonomous robotaxi developer Zoox has begun testing its custom-built driverless vehicles in San Francisco, marking its second commercial testing market after Las Vegas, according to a company update on Tuesday.
This move represents another milestone for the decade-old startup, which develops fully autonomous electric vehicles (EVs) without manual controls, such as pedals or steering wheels, setting it apart from competitors that convert conventional EVs into robotaxis.
What’s green, bidirectional, and now driving autonomously in San Francisco and the Las Vegas Strip? The Zoox robotaxi! Give us a wave if you see us on the road! 👋
Head to our Journal for all the details: https://t.co/eOReISgWzG. #Robotaxi pic.twitter.com/0iRy4wGTFZ
— Zoox (@zoox) November 11, 2024
Zoox’s robotaxi fleet, which can carry up to four passengers and achieve speeds up to 75 mph, has been undergoing rigorous testing across multiple cities. “Zoox is the only company driving a purpose-built robotaxi on public roads without traditional manual controls,” said Zoox co-founder and CTO Jesse Levinson. “This expansion marks our third city for robotaxi operations, following Foster City and Las Vegas. We’ve rigorously tested and validated our AI stack in multiple cities over the last seven years in preparation for the deployment of our robotaxi fleet.”
The company first deployed its robotaxis on public roads in Foster City, California, in early 2023, and later expanded its operations to Las Vegas, where it now runs along the city’s iconic Strip.
Zoox’s Las Vegas operations initially offered employee-only rides but plan to expand testing to include employees’ families and friends before a full public launch in 2025 under a new “Zoox Explorers” program.
Zoox’s San Francisco testing is initially limited to specific neighborhoods, including SoMa near Union Square and Oracle Park. The company plans to gradually extend its service area as testing progresses, though a commercial launch date remains unspecified.
