Zoox is bringing robotaxis to Austin and Miami

Zoox extends his legs. Amazon-owned robotaxi announced today that it is preparing to expand its services in… San Francisco and Vegaswhile also eyeing two additional cities – Austin And Miami – for future service.

Zoox, one of the few companies using a purpose-built self-driving vehicle without traditional driving controls, said it has traveled nearly 2 million driverless miles and carried nearly 350,000 passengers since launching its customer service last year. Zoox does not charge anything for its robo-taxi rides, as it is only certified to operate its specially designed vehicle on public roads under the law “Exemption from demonstration” From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Zoox’s robotaxis are completely driverless because they lack traditional controls like pedals and steering wheels. Instead, the interior of the car features bench seats positioned on either side, with passengers facing each other during the ride. The exterior is covered with sensors, including cameras, lidar, and radar, and the vehicles typically do not exceed 45 mph while in operation.

Zoox said it is introducing an updated ETA feature to its app “to improve accuracy, along with advance booking estimates that give riders a clearer picture of their trip before they commit.” Two additional features include “Find My Zoox,” which helps riders identify their robots in crowded locations, and the addition of “ZooxCast” Bluetooth capabilities for more personalized audio options.

In Las Vegas, Zoox is adding to its list of approved pickup and drop-off locations. Currently, the company serves a handful of destinations, including Resort World Las Vegas, AREA15, Topgolf, New York New York and Luxor. Now, Zoox is adding the Las Vegas Convention Center and the majority of the major hotels along the Strip. It will soon handle high-traffic areas like the Sphere and T-Mobile Arena.

In San Francisco, the company is quadrupling the size of its service area to include the eastern half of the city. Neighborhoods like the Marina, North Beach, and Chinatown, as well as Pacific Heights and along the Embarcadero, will see more Zoox activity soon.

As for its new markets in Austin and Miami, Zoox says it will start in small sections of each city and will limit trips to employees, their families, and friends only. Eventually, it will open its service to people on its waiting list. Zoox says more than half a million people have signed up to ride its cars.