Zoox Airport Rides Launch in Vegas

Zoox, an Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company, has expanded its commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas to include rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Customers can begin hailing rides to the airport starting Thursday, marking a significant expansion for the company.

This move comes after Zoox received a temporary two-year exemption from federal safety regulators in August. This exemption allows the deployment of up to 2,500 vehicles and permits the company to charge for rides, which began on August 10th. Zoox's unique robotaxi design lacks traditional controls like a steering wheel and pedals.

The expansion to the airport positions Zoox to potentially gain an advantage over competitors such as Uber and Lyft. While traditional services drop off passengers at the terminal curb, pick-ups require a walk to a parking garage. Zoox will offer pick-up and drop-off services at both airport terminals near baggage claim.

Las Vegas is becoming a hub for autonomous vehicle technology, with several companies receiving permits to operate commercial robotaxi services in Clark County. Tesla, Uber, and Waymo are among those granted permits, potentially leading to the deployment of up to 8,000 robotaxis in the region within the next year. Zoox is currently the only robotaxi company offering direct airport service.