Fri, 17 Jan 2025

Why 2025 is set to be a crucial year for Amazon's Zoox robotaxi unit

This year is expected to be a crucial one for Amazon's Zoox, as the company plans to grow its operations and commercialize a robotaxi business.
Zoox aims to start offering rides to the public in Las Vegas "quite soon" and expand to other cities including San Francisco, Miami, Austin, Texas, and others. The company plans to significantly grow its self-driving vehicle fleet from a couple of dozen vehicles currently operating. The robotaxi business is seen as crucial for Zoox this year, with co-founder Jesse Levinson saying the company is "excited" about the progress made so far. However, some experts have questioned whether the business model will be viable, citing high costs and regulatory challenges. Zoox has been working on developing its autonomous vehicle technology for years, focusing on assertive but not aggressive driving. The company's robotaxi, which is being tested in Las Vegas, handled well during a test drive but made some questionable choices during the ride. The commercialization of autonomous vehicles has proved to be challenging for many companies, with high costs and regulatory uncertainty posing significant hurdles. Waymo remains the leader in the field, operating hundreds of autonomous vehicles in four markets and conducting over 150,000 paid rides a week.
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