Zoox, the autonomous vehicle technology company owned by Amazon, is set to begin charging for its robotaxi services in Las Vegas starting August 10. This move marks the official launch of the company's commercial operations, nearly a year after it opened its service to the public in the city.
The ability to charge for rides follows a temporary exemption from certain federal motor vehicle safety standards granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week. This two-year commercial exemption allows Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles, despite their lack of traditional controls like a steering wheel or pedals.
Zoox has stated that robotaxi fares will be determined by a base fare, plus the distance and time traveled. The final fee will be visible before booking and will not change even if the route is altered. Additional destination fees may apply for trips to locations such as airports or high-traffic events.
While Zoox also operates robotaxis in other markets like San Francisco and Austin, these services will remain free for now, as the company requires further permits for commercial operation in California.