Article
I’m standing outside a nondescript corporate office park in Las Vegas next to a box-shaped vehicle with no proper front or back. It’s got a set of sliding doors, no steering wheel, and touchpad controls. It’s bidirectional, meaning it can move in either direction without turning around. And to be completely frank, it looks more like an oversized toaster than an actual car.
This is the second-generation Zoox robotaxi, a purpose-built autonomous shuttle that has been testing in and around Las Vegas for the last year and a half. Zoox, a subsidiary of Amazon, has been working on it for over a decade, and during this year’s CES, it finally let a few journalists take a ride.
So far, the only robotaxis operating on public roads in the US are run by Alphabet’s Waymo. Others have tried but tend to run out of money or get sidelined by traffic mishaps (or, in the case of Cruise, both). Unlike Waymo, Zoox isn’t open to the public. It hasn’t even said when it will be. And as Waymo eyes new cities and new partnerships, Zoox is still stuck in beta mode.
But maybe it’s about to get unstuck. Inviting journalists to go for a ride is certainly a step toward a public launch.
The Ride
I take a seat in the robotaxi, which looks more like a pod than a car, and strap myself in. The route we take is a pre-determined 30-minute loop to the very edge of the Las Vegas Strip and back. It’s all local roads, no freeways, with speed limits around 45 mph. As we wind past restaurants and strip malls, we encounter construction zones, pedestrians, and other normalities.
The first challenge comes when we arrive at a construction site with a closed right lane ahead of an intersection. While the robotaxi navigates it fine, it still feels inorganic and slightly robotic. Instead of merging before coming to the lane closure like a human driver would, the Zoox drives right up to the sign blocking the lane, comes to a full stop, signals, and waits for a relatively large gap in the traffic to merge left. It takes a full minute before traffic lets up enough that the robotaxi feels confident enough to safely move over.
Later, we encounter a pedestrian waiting to cross with the light. No issues here: the Zoox waits patiently while the person crosses, and after the light changes, away we go.
The Verdict
Beyond those two real-world challenges, the ride is largely uneventful, with the exception of some random and rather sudden jerky braking at the last minute when it comes to a light or a stop sign. Overall, the experience feels safe but less fully realized than a Waymo ride. While the company says it’s made some upgrades to things like suspension, brakes, and the electric drive units, the ride is still a bit rough, and the braking occasionally feels abrupt. With the wheels at the outer corners of the vehicle, and the body so low to the ground, rough roads (like the construction zone) and potholes are felt acutely. And since the seats have minimal padding, those undulations travel directly through your seat and into your body. That could be a problem for folks more attuned to the high-riding comfort of most modern SUVs.
Conclusion
Zoox is taking the slow and steady route to autonomy, while keeping a handle on its own design and proprietary software. Making the leap from a few test vehicles to wider success in places that aren’t always sunny with clear skies and moderate temperatures year-round is still a long way off for any robotaxi company. But Zoox thinks it has the winning formula.
FAQs
Q: Is the Zoox robotaxi available to the public?
A: Not yet. Zoox is still in beta mode and has not announced a release date.
Q: How does the Zoox robotaxi compare to Waymo?
A: The Zoox robotaxi is designed to be a purpose-built autonomous shuttle, whereas Waymo’s vehicles are retrofitted with autonomous technology.
Q: What are the advantages of the Zoox robotaxi?
A: The Zoox robotaxi is designed to be more efficient and cost-effective than traditional taxi services, with the potential to reduce emissions and increase safety.
Q: What are the challenges facing Zoox and other robotaxi companies?
A: Some of the challenges include navigating complex urban environments, dealing with unpredictable weather conditions, and ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers.
Q: Will the Zoox robotaxi be available in my city?
A: It’s unclear at this time, as Zoox has not announced specific plans for expansion.
