Zoox robotaxis have gotten the green light to begin testing in San Francisco. Zoox, owned by Amazon, looks and operates differently than Cruise or Waymo, some of the other driverless vehicles.
Unlike in a Waymo or a Cruise vehicle, you won’t find a steering wheel.
Zoox says its automated vehicle is “a purpose-built robotaxi.”
“I think it’s exciting; it’s interesting,” said Scott Moura, an associate professor at UC Berkeley and director of California Partners for Advance Transportation Technology.
“They have four-wheel steering so they can maneuver a bit easier. They have seating inside a train car where passengers are facing one another,” said Moura.
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ABC7 News reporter Lyanne Melendez went for a ride a few months ago.
Previously, Zoox was only offering rides to employees at its Foster City campus.
“It’s almost like being on a nice bus,” said Melendez. “The vehicle is designed to be bi-directional. What could be the front could also be the back.”