Amazon’s Zoox launches robotaxi service in Las Vegas
Free driverless rides initially offered across five Strip-area destinations as company begins public rollout
Amazon-owned robotaxi maker Zoox on Sept. 10, 2025, launched a public robotaxi service in Las Vegas, offering free driverless rides for at least the first few months as it begins its broader rollout.
The service is available through the Zoox app and will take passengers to five designated locations on the Las Vegas Strip, including Resorts World, the Luxor hotel and the New York-New York hotel. Vehicles will carry up to four passengers and travel routes up to about three miles (4.8 kilometers).
Zoox began testing its boxy, four-seat robotaxis in Las Vegas roughly two years ago and initially limited rides to employees before easing access to friends and family. The public debut follows that extended testing period and the company’s statement of confidence in the vehicles’ safety and operational readiness.
Rides will be free to the public for several months to promote the service in the tourism-heavy market. When Zoox begins charging, it says fares will be comparable to traditional taxis and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Zoox is able to sustain the initial free service in part because of backing from Amazon, which acquired the company five years ago for $1.2 billion; Amazon’s market value is about $2.5 trillion.
Zoox is operating roughly 50 vehicles between Las Vegas and San Francisco, with a majority currently deployed in Nevada. The company manufactures its own vehicles at a former bus factory in Hayward, California, and plans to produce as many as 10,000 robotaxis annually as it expands into additional markets.
The Las Vegas launch positions Zoox in a competitive field that already includes Alphabet’s Waymo, which offers driverless rides in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta and Austin. Unlike Waymo, which integrates its autonomous system into vehicles built by traditional automakers, Zoox has built a distinct vehicle and end-to-end manufacturing approach.
Zoox plans to open its San Francisco service to all passengers next year and has said it hopes to expand to Austin and Miami following broader rollouts in its initial markets. Other companies, including Tesla, have also pursued robotaxi concepts, with testing under way in some cities.
Regulatory oversight and local permitting have shaped how and where driverless services can operate, and companies deploying such systems have emphasized incremental rollouts and testing to address safety and performance in complex urban environments. Zoox’s phased expansion and free introductory rides aim to build public awareness and user data ahead of paid operations in Las Vegas and other planned markets.