Autonomous vehicle (AV) company Zoox has partnered with Uber to launch robotaxis on the Uber app. This marks Zoox’s first partnership with a third-party platform like Uber.
The companies intend to launch robotaxis in Las Vegas this summer, with plans to launch additional vehicles in Los Angeles by mid-2027.
Once enabled, Uber users will see the option to match with a Zoox robotaxi for eligible trips. Zoox, which was acquired by Amazon in 2020, will continue to offer its rides through its app as well. Currently, Zoox robotaxis trips are free in Las Vegas and select neighborhoods in San Francisco.
“We are excited to partner with Uber, a company that shares our vision for transforming mobility,” said Zoox CEO Aicha Evans.
“This partnership is an opportunity to continue advancing the use of autonomous mobility in daily life. Through our collaboration, Zoox will provide a differentiated rider experience to those who already know and love the convenience of riding with Uber.”
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted Zoox's robotaxis, which are purpose-built and have no steering wheels or pedals.
“Zoox’s commitment to safety and their advanced autonomous driving technology make them an ideal partner. We’re thrilled to work together to introduce more riders to the future of mobility.”
Zoox will need approval from from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to commercially deploy the robotaxis and has filed for exemptions that would require vehicles to have features like windshield defrosting systems and wipers, TechCrunch reported.
Uber's robotaxi plans
Uber is an active player in the AV segment, with Khosrowshahi recently stating that the company has a “clear path to becoming the largest facilitator of AV trips in the world.”
The company has established robotaxi partnerships with Canada-based self-driving startup Waabi, Baidu and WeRide, among others, and it is set to begin on-road testing of robotaxis with Nuro and Lucid this year. Uber is also an investor in artificial intelligence-powered AV company Wayve's recent $1.2 billion funding round.
Late last month, the rideshare giant also launched an autonomous solutions arm to help partners build AVs and bring them to market.
“Autonomous technology has remarkable potential to make transportation safer and more affordable,” Khosrowshahi said when announcing Uber Autonomous Solutions.
“Innovation in autonomy is moving quickly, but meaningful commercialization will take much longer. For more than a decade, Uber has helped set the standard for on-demand mobility and built the capabilities that make 'push a button and get a ride' work at global scale. With Uber Autonomous Solutions, we’re externalizing these hard-won competencies for our partners.”