The company
Zoox was founded in 2014 and acquired by Amazon in 2020 for more than $1.2 billion, operating as an independent subsidiary out of Foster City, California. Unlike most competitors, Zoox didn't retrofit an existing car — it designed a purpose-built vehicle from the ground up specifically for autonomous ride-hailing.
The vehicle
Zoox's robotaxi is a bidirectional pod: no front or back in the traditional sense, four-wheel steering, and face-to-face interior seating for up to four riders. It's built around 360-degree sensing and a distinctive airbag system designed for its unusual layout. Top speed is around 75 mph, and the vehicle is built at a dedicated Zoox facility in Hayward, California.
Status in Los Angeles
Zoox has been testing in LA since 2025, initially with retrofitted test vehicles used purely for mapping and validation before its purpose-built pods take over. Zoox and Uber announced a partnership in 2026 to bring Zoox onto the Uber app; the companies have said Zoox will launch in Las Vegas first (summer 2026) followed by Los Angeles by mid-2027. Zoox will also continue running its own separate app in both cities.
The bigger picture
Zoox is already live commercially in Las Vegas as of August 2026, following a federal safety exemption allowing up to 2,500 vehicles a year. Cumulative ridership across its markets is approaching 1 million rides. Amazon's backing gives it significant long-term capital to scale manufacturing.
How to book (once live in LA)
- Through the Uber app, alongside Uber's other fleet partners
- Or directly through Zoox's own app
- Targeted for mid-2027 in Los Angeles
Timeline and figures are based on public company announcements as of September 2026 and are subject to change.