Amazon-owned Zoox will begin offering rides to the public in its toaster-shaped, steering-wheel-free shuttles for the first time, marking an important milestone in its efforts to commercialize its futuristic robotaxi service after years of testing.
The initial service, which Zoox announced on Wednesday, will be in Las Vegas and will be limited to pick-ups and drop-offs at a select number of pre-approved locations on the Las Vegas Strip.
The robotaxi service will initially be offered to passengers free of charge, as Zoox has yet to receive regulatory approval to charge fares. The service will initially consist of approximately 50 Zoox vehicles across Vegas and San Francisco, a Zoox spokesperson said, with the majority of the vehicles in Nevada. The company plans to scale up over time to meet demand, the spokesperson said…