Amazon's self-driving startupzooxrecentlyAnnounceZoox will embark on a multi-year strategic partnership with global ride-hailing giant Uber. In the future, users will be able to book Zoox's unique robotaxi service directly through the Uber App. The service is expected to launch later this year in Las Vegas and is planned to expand to Los Angeles next year.
A two-way self-driving car built from scratch, operating on two parallel platforms.
Founded in 2014, Zoox's core philosophy is that "to reinvent the way we move, we have to start from scratch." Unlike most companies that convert existing commercially available vehicles into self-driving cars, Zoox chose to design and build the world's first "purpose-built" driverless taxi.
This unique vehicle features fully autonomous driving, all-electric power, and bidirectional capability, with its overall design entirely focused on the passenger experience. Through this multi-year agreement, Zoox will provide a dedicated fleet for Uber's dispatching platform. Zoox also emphasizes that in addition to providing services through the Uber App, users can continue to book rides in these cities through Zoox's own app.
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A steady pace of commercialization: the cornerstone of one million miles and 30 passengers
Since its founding in San Francisco in 2010, Uber has grown from a simple ride-hailing app into a vast empire encompassing food delivery, freight logistics, and even micro-vehicles, and is now actively building a network of autonomous vehicles. This collaboration also symbolizes Uber's commitment to continuously driving transportation innovation in the ride-hailing industry.
Over the past year, Zoox has made significant strides in its commercialization process, launching services in Las Vegas and introducing the "Zoox Explorers" program in San Francisco to further refine the service experience. To date, Zoox has accumulated over 100 million miles of autonomous driving and served over 30 passengers.
Regarding its partnership with Uber, Zoox stated that it will continue its consistent "steady and gradual" strategy: starting small, learning quickly, and scaling responsibly. Initial deployments will be strictly controlled, and the scale will be gradually expanded as operations, technology, and customer experience are optimized, thereby accelerating the realization of its vision for safer, greener, and more enjoyable urban mobility.
