Amazon’s autonomous vehicle startup Zoox plans to boost production next year as it prepares for the commercial launch of its robotaxi fleet in the United States.
To support this expansion, Zoox will open a new facility in California’s Bay Area, extending its operations beyond its current limited production site in Fremont, co-founder Jesse Levinson stated.
The new site will enable the startup to scale up its fleet, which currently includes around two dozen custom-designed test vehicles operating in six U.S. cities, Levinson added.
The company aims to begin offering public rides in Las Vegas later this year, with San Francisco to follow. The new facility will help Zoox get “ready to make hundreds and then thousands” of its custom-built robotaxis.
Automakers such as Tesla and Waymo, a subsidiary of Google, are actively developing autonomous vehicles for the growing robotaxi market. In the past, U.S. auto regulators have launched investigations into self-driving systems used by GM’s Cruise, Waymo, and Zoox.
As competition in the autonomous vehicle sector intensifies, Zoox’s expansion efforts signal Amazon’s strong commitment to entering the robotaxi market. With plans to scale production and launch public rides in major U.S. cities, the startup is positioning itself as a key player in the future of urban mobility—despite ongoing regulatory scrutiny facing the industry.
