Tech innovation is rolling into Sin City with Amazon’s Zoox launching its first public robotaxi service in Las Vegas. The autonomous vehicles will offer free rides across five designated locations, including popular hotel destinations like Resorts World, Luxor, and New York-New York.

Zoox’s boxy electric vehicles represent a bold step into the autonomous transportation market, backed by Amazon’s substantial financial resources. Currently operating about 50 vehicles in Las Vegas and San Francisco, the company hopes to manufacture up to 10,000 robotaxis annually as they expand their service.

The robotaxi service initially started with employee-only rides before gradually opening to friends and family. Now, anyone with the Zoox app can request a ride within a three-mile radius, carrying up to four passengers simultaneously. These rides will remain free for the first few months to encourage public engagement and demonstrate the technology’s reliability.

While competitors like Waymo have been integrating driverless technology into existing vehicle models, Zoox is taking a different approach. They’re manufacturing their uniquely designed robotaxis in a former bus factory in Hayward, California, just outside San Francisco.

Zoox’s Las Vegas launch is strategic, positioning themselves to compete with Waymo, which currently operates in multiple cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. The company plans to expand its service to Austin and Miami in the coming years, with hopes of opening public rides in San Francisco next year.

As autonomous vehicle technology continues to evolve, Zoox’s entrance into the market represents an exciting milestone in transportation innovation. By offering free, driverless rides, they’re inviting the public to experience the future of urban mobility firsthand.