Zoox plans to deploy robotaxis on Uber app in Las Vegas, pending federal approval

Zoox plans to put its robotaxis on the Uber app in Vegas this year | TechCrunch

Amazon-owned Zoox plans to make its robotaxis available to hail on the Uber app in Las Vegas later this year, the two companies announced Wednesday. Before that happens, though, Zoox still needs approval from the federal government to commercially deploy its robotaxis, which don't have a steering wheel or pedals. That requires exemptions from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). On Wednesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began taking public comment on Zoox's application for those exemptions. (Zoox currently has an exemption that allows the custom-built robotaxis to operate as a demonstration, and not commercially.) If and when Zoox gets approval, the company plans to launch its own commercial robotaxi service first, and before making the vehicles available on Uber in Las Vegas, it told TechCrunch. Zoox currently offers free rides in Las Vegas and in San Francisco. It's also mapping and building up a presence in eight other U.S. cities, including Dallas and Phoenix, which were announced earlier this week. Zoox and Uber described this as a "multi-year strategic partnership," that includes plans to launch in Los Angeles in 2027. This is Zoox's first third-party partnership with a platform like Uber. But it's certainly not Uber's first partnership with an autonomous vehicle company. Uber has partnerships with more than 25 different autonomous vehicle companies around the world. Its most notable deal is with Waymo, which makes its robotaxis available on the Uber platform in Austin and Atlanta. Uber has also partnered with China's Baidu and announced it would start testing those self-driving cars in London this year. The ride-hail giant has AV partnerships with Volkswagen, May Mobility, and Pony AI, too. Uber has also been building out new offerings for these robotaxi partners. In January, TechCrunch revealed the company started up an "AV Labs" division dedicated to collecting real-world driving data to reinforce its partners' autonomous systems. Last month, Uber announced it had created a division called Uber Autonomous Solutions that can provide operational, software, and support services. Zoox is seeking exemptions from eight of the FMVSS, including the standards that require a vehicle to have windshield defrosting systems and windshield wipers. NHTSA will take public comments for 30 days, but it's not clear when the federal safety agency will make a ruling. At an autonomous vehicle safety hearing held on Tuesday, NHTSA chief Jonathan Morrison sounded eager to move forward with a more explicit regulatory scheme for self-driving cars. "We think it's past time to get past the hand-waving and hype, and are finally doing the necessary, hard policy work to provide appropriate and robust oversight over this sector while removing unnecessary and unintended barriers to innovation that currently exists," he said. "This will not be easy, but I firmly believe that it is within our grasp, and we at NHTSA are moving with a great sense of urgency to get it done."

Zoox and Uber tie up to deploy robotaxis on ride-hailing network

March 11 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies (UBER.N), opens new tab signed a multi-year partnership to deploy Zoox's purpose-built robotaxis to its platform, the companies said on Wednesday, marking the latter's first venture with a third-party ride-hailing service. Despite lagging behind industry leader Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Waymo in robotaxi deployment, Zoox has been gradually expanding operations, launching limited services in Las Vegas ⁠and a pilot rider program in San Francisco late last year. Zoox said on Monday it will expand testing to Dallas and Phoenix, along with launching a command hub for fleet operations in Arizona. The deal also adds to a flurry of partnerships between ride-hailing platforms and autonomous vehicle developers as the sector races toward commercialization. With its partnership with 25 autonomous vehicle technology developers, Uber already offers rides in cities like Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta and Dubai, and ⁠plans to expand to 15 cities globally by the end of 2026. The company aims to be the largest facilitator of such trips in the world by 2029. The partnership announced on Wednesday is set to launch in Las Vegas this summer, ⁠with a planned rollout in Los Angeles by mid-2027. The robotaxis will remain accessible through Zoox's app as well as the Uber platform for all eligible trips. Founded ⁠in 2014 and acquired by Amazon for $1.3 billion in 2020, Zoox has set itself apart with its boxy design that lacks a steering wheel ⁠or pedals, tailored for passengers rather than adapted from traditional car platforms. The company has logged more than one million autonomous miles and served over 300,000 riders. Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * Artificial Intelligence * ADAS, AV & Safety * Software-Defined Vehicle * Sustainable & EV Supply Chain

Uber stock gains after announcing Zoox robotaxi partnership By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) rose 3.75% Wednesday morning following the announcement of a strategic partnership with Amazon's Zoox to deploy robotaxis on the Uber platform in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The partnership will launch in Las Vegas this summer, with Los Angeles deployment planned for mid-2027. Zoox robotaxis will be available through the Uber app, allowing riders to be matched with the autonomous vehicles on eligible trips. Zoox will continue operating its own app alongside the Uber integration in both cities. Zoox robotaxis are purpose-built vehicles designed specifically for ride-hailing, rather than retrofitted passenger cars. This marks the first time Zoox has partnered with a third-party platform. The company is an independent subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. "The Zoox robotaxi is unlike any other vehicle on the planet - it was purpose-built from the ground up to deliver an extraordinary experience," said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. "Zoox's commitment to safety and their advanced autonomous driving technology make them an ideal partner." Aicha Evans, CEO of Zoox, said the partnership represents "an opportunity to continue advancing the use of autonomous mobility in daily life." The collaboration positions Uber to expand its autonomous vehicle offerings as the ride-hailing industry continues developing self-driving technology. Zoox operates in Foster City, California, and focuses on autonomous ride-hailing services. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.