Amazon's Zoox unveils new robotaxi design as it plans to offer paid rides
Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous driving company, has revealed the new design for its toaster-shaped robotaxi. The new design comes at a time when Zoox is planning to expand beyond free rides in the US.
Self-driving cars are no longer something that you only see on a sci-fi show. Rather, they are now a reality. Many companies including Tesla, and Google’s Waymo now offer self-driving taxis. And now, Zoox – an Amazon subsidiary – has updated its robotaxi as it plans to offer paid rides in the US.
The company has revealed the redesign of its robotaxi, which is often referred to as a “toaster-shaped” vehicle. According to Zoox, the new version was designed with comfort and usability upgrades, as this model is planned to go into large-scale production.
Zoox robotaxi design and interiors
On the outside, the redesigned robotaxi looks broadly similar to the existing model. The robotaxi keeps Zoox’s signature carriage-style cabin, both ends of the car looking virtually identical from the side profile. This rectangular look is what has earned the vehicle the nickname toaster by some. The car can drive in either direction at speeds of up to 75 miles (120 km) per hour.
However, the company has made some tweaks. These include enlarging and relocating the bidirectional reflectors, which help riders, law enforcement and first responders tell the front of the vehicle from the rear. Zoox has also added a speaker, microphone and two-way audio capability to the door interface.
The robotaxi also keeps features from earlier versions, including its moonroof, starry night lights, and the set of cameras, radars, lidars and infrared sensors used to perceive its surroundings.
Stepping inside, you get a minimalistic cabin with four seats that face each other. And since it is an autonomous vehicle, you do not get a steering wheel or pedals.
The company said the car comes with some changes here too – a better touchscreen, more comfortable seats and headrests with extra padding, a lighter colour palette with aloe-green seating and stone-grey trim, larger cupholders, and a grooved charging pad to stop phones from sliding. Zoox states that these interior tweaks make it easier for passengers to spot forgotten items such as keys and phones.
Zoox wants to offer paid rides
Currently Zoox offers free rides in select cities in the US, such as Las Vegas and San Francisco, Miami and Austin.
The company said it has served more than 500,000 riders since opening service in Las Vegas last September. In March this year, Zoox struck a partnership with Uber to make its robotaxis available through the platform in Las Vegas.
However, the Amazon subsidiary plans to finally launch a paid service, likely before the end of this year. Zoox is said to be awaiting approval from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to operate as many as 2,500 of its self-driving vehicles on public roads for commercial purposes. Federal rules in the US require vehicles to have standard driver controls.
Zoox says that its petition is under review after public comments closed in early April. The company also plans to begin large-scale production of its robotaxi at its manufacturing facility in Hayward, California. The facility opened last June and can eventually produce 10,000 vehicles a year, with output expected to ramp up to 100 vehicles a week, subject to regulatory approval.
Zoox remains behind Google’s Waymo in the robotaxi space. Waymo recently said it had surpassed 500,000 paid rides a week across 10 US cities and plans to expand commercial service to several new cities this year, including London and Tokyo.
Self-driving cars are no longer something that you only see on a sci-fi show. Rather, they are now a reality. Many companies including Tesla, and Google’s Waymo now offer self-driving taxis. And now, Zoox – an Amazon subsidiary – has updated its robotaxi as it plans to offer paid rides in the US.
The company has revealed the redesign of its robotaxi, which is often referred to as a “toaster-shaped” vehicle. According to Zoox, the new version was designed with comfort and usability upgrades, as this model is planned to go into large-scale production.
Zoox robotaxi design and interiors
On the outside, the redesigned robotaxi looks broadly similar to the existing model. The robotaxi keeps Zoox’s signature carriage-style cabin, both ends of the car looking virtually identical from the side profile. This rectangular look is what has earned the vehicle the nickname toaster by some. The car can drive in either direction at speeds of up to 75 miles (120 km) per hour.
However, the company has made some tweaks. These include enlarging and relocating the bidirectional reflectors, which help riders, law enforcement and first responders tell the front of the vehicle from the rear. Zoox has also added a speaker, microphone and two-way audio capability to the door interface.
The robotaxi also keeps features from earlier versions, including its moonroof, starry night lights, and the set of cameras, radars, lidars and infrared sensors used to perceive its surroundings.
Stepping inside, you get a minimalistic cabin with four seats that face each other. And since it is an autonomous vehicle, you do not get a steering wheel or pedals.
The company said the car comes with some changes here too – a better touchscreen, more comfortable seats and headrests with extra padding, a lighter colour palette with aloe-green seating and stone-grey trim, larger cupholders, and a grooved charging pad to stop phones from sliding. Zoox states that these interior tweaks make it easier for passengers to spot forgotten items such as keys and phones.
Zoox wants to offer paid rides
Currently Zoox offers free rides in select cities in the US, such as Las Vegas and San Francisco, Miami and Austin.
The company said it has served more than 500,000 riders since opening service in Las Vegas last September. In March this year, Zoox struck a partnership with Uber to make its robotaxis available through the platform in Las Vegas.
However, the Amazon subsidiary plans to finally launch a paid service, likely before the end of this year. Zoox is said to be awaiting approval from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to operate as many as 2,500 of its self-driving vehicles on public roads for commercial purposes. Federal rules in the US require vehicles to have standard driver controls.
Zoox says that its petition is under review after public comments closed in early April. The company also plans to begin large-scale production of its robotaxi at its manufacturing facility in Hayward, California. The facility opened last June and can eventually produce 10,000 vehicles a year, with output expected to ramp up to 100 vehicles a week, subject to regulatory approval.
Zoox remains behind Google’s Waymo in the robotaxi space. Waymo recently said it had surpassed 500,000 paid rides a week across 10 US cities and plans to expand commercial service to several new cities this year, including London and Tokyo.
