Amazon's Zoox robotaxis start operating for free in Las Vegas

Amazon's subsidiary, Zoox, has started offering free rides in robotaxis to the public in the Strip zone of Las Vegas this Wednesday. This initiative was launched in preparation to obtain state approval that will allow them to charge fares and compete with other autonomous vehicle companies, including Alphabet's Waymo and Tesla.

Amazon's robotaxis have a peculiar design that resembles a toaster on wheels. These vehicles are completely devoid of manual controls - no steering wheel or pedals. Passengers sit facing each other, as the interior features two rows of opposing seats.

Zoox expects to receive feedback from its free trips

1/2 Las Vegas, we're going to roll. We are excited to announce that our service has launched in Las Vegas. What are you waiting for? Run, don't walk ( to travel). 🥳

Visit our Journal for all the details: pic.twitter.com/aBktWol5tq

— Zoox (@zoox) September 10, 2025

The vehicles also feature floor-to-ceiling windows that provide passengers with a clear view of the surroundings, while the interior is designed to facilitate conversation among travelers. Zoox's CEO, Aicha Evans, insisted that these robotaxis are not converted cars.

Evans also acknowledged that robotaxis aim to offer a different experience for people to become familiar with them. He hopes that the free ride initiative will provide the company with valuable feedback. He added that these driverless taxis are beneficial for both the community and the users, which in turn benefits Zoox.

The robotaxi industry has faced a challenging business environment, with stricter regulations, federal investigations, and public protests. The sector has also seen huge investments from certain companies, which has forced many emerging robotaxi firms to shut down.

Amazon acquired its subsidiary nearly five years ago for approximately $1.3 billion. Zoox remains one of the few companies still competing in the autonomous vehicle race, a field that the company hopes can generate significant profits if successful. Over the past month, the company has offered free test rides from a casino in Las Vegas.

"In fact, we have been receiving thousands of users every week just from this location, which has greatly exceeded our expectations."

-Jesse Levinson, Chief Technology Officer of Zoox.

Levinson also confirmed that the autonomous vehicle company will soon expand its services to San Francisco. The firm has been testing its vehicles in the state for months and is now adding users to a waiting list.

Tesla has also started its autonomous taxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area with a safety driver using its autonomous driving technology. Waymo operates its fleet of approximately 2,000 vehicles in the same region, along with parts of Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin.

Lyft has partnered with May Mobility to launch a pilot robotaxi service in Atlanta starting Wednesday. The rideshare app Lyft said that its customers will be able to summon modified Toyota Sienna minivans by the autonomous vehicle startup May Mobility in Midtown Atlanta and surrounding areas. The company also stated that the fares for its robotaxi service will be comparable to those of regular rides.

Lyft's Executive Vice President of Driver Experience, Jeremy Bird, confirmed that the initiative will start with a small fleet and will increase to dozens. He also expects the fleet to reach hundreds and thousands over time.

Autonomous vehicles will have trained operators on board to answer questions and take control if necessary. The CEO of May Mobility, Edwin Olson, also revealed that the vehicles are equipped with a redundant wired driving system and a set of 360-degree sensors with lidar, radar, and cameras.

U.S. lawmaker seeks to ban driverless cars

NEWS: Republican Senator Josh Hawley wants to ban self-driving cars and says he will introduce a bill on the matter "soon".

"I think we should ban autonomous vehicles. The proliferation of driverless cars is not safe and would be terrible, terrible for workers."

40,000 Americans die... pic.twitter.com/88tXgGbn0w

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 9, 2025

On Tuesday, Senator Josh Hawley called for a ban on autonomous vehicles, arguing that these cars are not safe and would be terrible for workers. The legislator also plans to introduce a bill regarding the sector soon, but did not provide further details.

The senator has drafted the "Autonomous Vehicle Safety Act," which effectively seeks to ban driverless cars throughout the country. The legislation requires the presence of human safety operators in any autonomous vehicle operating on a public road.

At last week's National Conservatism conference, he also said that only humans should drive cars and trucks. Hawley expressed that he was more concerned about the impact that autonomous vehicles could have on jobs in professions such as truck drivers, taxi drivers, and Uber drivers.

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