Amazon's Zoox Robotaxis to Expand Testing in California and Nevada

Zoox expands testing of its self-driving vehicles in California and Nevada. Vehicles can now reach speeds of up to 45 mph and operate at night. Zoox aims to gather valuable data for further development of its autonomous technology.

Amazon's self-driving car unit, Zoox, is ramping up its efforts to compete with rival Waymo by expanding the testing capabilities of its autonomous vehicles. The company announced on Thursday that it will be increasing the areas in which its vehicles can operate, allowing for higher speeds and even nighttime driving.

Zoox's fleet of vehicles, which are uniquely designed and built by the company itself, resemble toaster ovens on wheels and do not have any manual controls such as steering wheels or pedals. In addition to its own vehicles, Zoox also operates retrofitted self-driving Toyota Highlanders in various cities including Seattle, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Foster City, California.

While Zoox's expansion plans may seem modest compared to Waymo's recent announcement of a taxi service in Los Angeles, the company is making significant strides in improving its capabilities. Zoox will now allow its specially designed vehicles to reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, an increase from the previous limit of 35 mph. The company has also expanded the area in Las Vegas where its cars can operate, extending it from one mile to five miles.

According to Zoox, these changes will expose their robotaxis to the busiest conditions they have ever encountered, providing valuable data for further development. The vehicles will also be tested in light rain and at night, crucial factors in ensuring their performance in various weather and lighting conditions.

Like its competitors, Zoox aims to eventually replace human drivers with fully autonomous vehicles, which are believed to be safer and more reliable due to the elimination of human error. However, the company has not provided a specific timeline for when it expects its self-driving vehicles to become widespread.

It is worth noting that General Motors' Cruise faced setbacks in its autonomous vehicle testing after regulators accused executives of withholding evidence related to an accident in San Francisco. As a result, Cruise halted its robotaxi testing for a period of time.

Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for over $1 billion, leading to speculation about the company's future plans. While there have been no official announcements regarding the use of Zoox's vehicles for delivery purposes, it remains a possibility that Amazon could leverage these autonomous cars for its delivery operations, potentially eliminating the need for human drivers.

Source: REUTERS