Insider Brief
- Zoox launched what it says is the first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using a purpose-built robotaxi, offering free rides on and around the Las Vegas Strip via its iOS and Android app.
- The rollout uses fixed ride-hail zones and on-site concierges at partner locations, with app features for vehicle ID, ETAs, live updates, and feedback, and will transition to paid service pending regulatory approval.
- Riders can book among select destinations including Resorts World Las Vegas, AREA15, and Topgolf, with more Las Vegas stops planned and a waitlist open for a future San Francisco launch.
Zoox has launched what it says is the first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using a purpose-built robotaxi, opening free rides on and around the Las Vegas Strip via the Zoox app on iOS and Android. According to the Amazon-owned company, the debut caps years of development and puts a commercial spotlight on a driverless vehicle designed from the ground up for ride-hailing rather than a retrofitted car, according to Zoox.
“The autonomous vehicle industry has made remarkable strides this year, bringing us closer to a future of safer, more accessible mobility. 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,” Zoox CEO Aicha Evans noted in a statement on Sept. 10. “Las Vegas is a city famous for unforgettable moments, and it is the ideal location for our debut. Zoox is about transforming the entire ride-hailing experience, making every ride a delightful experience.”
At launch, riders can book trips among select destinations on and near the Strip, including Resorts World Las Vegas, AREA15, Topgolf, and other resorts and entertainment properties, the company said. Pickups and drop-offs take place in each destination’s ride-hail zone; at partner locations such as Resorts World and AREA15, Zoox has set up dedicated areas with onsite concierges to help first-time riders, walk through the app, and answer questions.
The service is free during this initial familiarization phase, with paid rides to follow “as a next step and once we receive the necessary regulatory approval,” the company said. Within the app, riders see a vehicle license plate number for identification, estimated pickup times, real-time arrival updates, and a post-ride summary with feedback options. Support is available through the app or via a “Help” button on the in-vehicle rider screen, according to Zoox.
Zoox said Las Vegas is an “ideal location” for its debut, citing the city’s high visitor volume and dense mix of entertainment venues, restaurants, shopping, and sports. The company framed the Strip as a proving ground for a service intended to make the journey part of the attraction, with carriage-style seating designed for conversation and comfort.
The company is also building a market pipeline beyond Nevada. After downloading the app, riders can join a waitlist for San Francisco service. Zoox said it will announce a San Francisco launch date later and expects to add Las Vegas destinations “throughout the coming months” as the service expands.
Zoox did not disclose ridership targets, vehicle counts, or a timeline for fare changes. But the company positioned the Las Vegas launch as a milestone—the first public deployment of its bespoke robotaxi in a live, high-demand corridor—and a template it intends to lift into additional U.S. markets once it secures the green lights.
