Zoox launches fully driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas with free Strip rides
Amazon-owned Zoox offers free trips to five Strip locations as it tests its autonomous ride-hailing service ahead of regulatory approval
LAS VEGAS — Amazon-owned Zoox began offering its fully driverless robotaxi service on the Las Vegas Strip, launching a promotional program that provides free rides to five Strip locations. The service started operating on Sept. 10 and is available to the public via the Zoox app for trips of up to about three miles, carrying up to four passengers.
The five destinations covered in the launch are Resorts World, AREA15, Topgolf, the Luxor hotel and the New York-New York hotel. The rides are electric and feature bench seats that face each other, a layout Zoox has described as part of its vehicle design. The introduction is part of a staged rollout that will run for the first few months while regulators review the service and Zoox continues to refine its user interface and pickup/drop-off infrastructure. When driverless charging begins, prices are expected to be in line with how Uber and Lyft price similar trips.
Riders can expect familiar ride-hailing features in the Zoox app: a display of the vehicle’s license plate number, estimated pickup times, arrival updates and post-ride summaries with feedback options. If travelers need help, they can contact a remote support team through the app or press a dedicated help button on the rider screen inside the vehicle. The company says the robotaxis will accommodate up to four passengers for trips of roughly three miles along the Strip.
The move marks a significant milestone in a long-running push by Zoox to bring its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the public. Zoox bought by Amazon for $1.2 billion nearly five years ago and has since aimed to catch up with Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous-vehicle unit, which already operates driverless rides in several cities. Waymo began offering commercial driverless rides in 2020 and announced earlier this year that it had surpassed 10 million paid rides.
Zoox has been testing its robotaxi fleet in Las Vegas for more than two years and has a smaller pilot presence in San Francisco. The company currently operates about 50 vehicles between Las Vegas and San Francisco, with plans to expand service in the Bay Area and potentially move into Austin and Miami in the coming year. In Las Vegas, the nationwide push for autonomous mobility is closely watched as a litmus test for how well the technology can perform in a busy, tourist-driven city. Riders will be able to sign up for the waitlist to be among the first to experience the service in the Bay Area as testing progresses.
“[The autonomous vehicle industry] has made remarkable strides this year, bringing us closer to a future of safer, more accessible mobility,” Zoox CEO Aicha Evans said in a statement. “With the launch of our fully driverless ride-hailing service using a purposefully designed robotaxi, we’re thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking journey.” Evans added that the company has conducted more than a decade of research and testing and is “incredibly excited to finally bring that vision to the public.”
As with other ride-hailing services, Zoox’s autonomous taxi operates with a remote-support backstop and an emphasis on user feedback to guide ongoing improvements. The company has said the rollout timeline and eventual pricing will depend on regulatory approvals and field performance, with future service levels and city-by-city expansion to be announced as testing continues.
In a broader context, the rollout occurs as retailers and tech firms push broader adoption of autonomous mobility despite challenges related to safety, privacy and public trust. The Las Vegas launch also comes as the city seeks to balance tourism growth with an evolving transportation ecosystem that increasingly features electric and autonomous options. Analysts say success in Vegas could pave the way for more pilot programs in high-traffic tourist hubs and corporate campuses where predictable trip patterns may help calibrate autonomous systems.
Amazon’s Zoox robotaxis are part of a broader industry push toward autonomous mobility, a field that includes competitors such as Waymo and several other automakers. The company has emphasized rider protections, remote assistance and continuous data collection to improve routing, pickup accuracy and overall reliability. The public launch in Las Vegas will inform how the service adapts to peak tourist periods, city regulations and evolving consumer expectations about convenience, safety and ride quality.
As regulators continue to assess safety protocols and service standards, Zoox has signaled that it will use the Las Vegas experience to refine its interface, emergency features and accessibility options. The company’s testing and phased expansion approach reflect a cautious path to scaling fully driverless ride-hailing in dense urban environments, where mixed traffic, pedestrians and high vehicle turnover require robust perception, planning and control capabilities.
