Amazon-owned self-driving technology company Zoox has commenced testing its custom-built robotaxis on public roads in Las Vegas, Nevada. The vehicles are built without a steering wheel or pedals; this marks the first time such autonomous vehicles are being tested on Nevada roads.

The robotaxis will be first deployed to cover a one-mile loop near Zoox’s facilities in Las Vegas and will be open to Zoox employees during working hours. The company intends to expand its geographical coverage in the coming months.

The company is also looking to expand its warehouse and office space in Nevada to support its growing fleet and team. Zoox has also confirmed that its headcount across all locations (several locations in California, Nevada, and Washington) has grown about 16% year-to-date (to about 2,200 employees; up from 1,900 staff at the beginning of the year). Most of the new hires have been for its “mission readiness” team in Las Vegas, which focuses on fleet maintenance and charging. 

Analyst QuickTake: Zoox first received permission from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to commence autonomous vehicle testing in Nevada in 2019 and has been testing and refining the technology in Vegas since. The launch in Vegas comes on the heels of deploying robotaxis on public roads in Foster City, California, in February 2023, which is also transporting employees there. The company is yet to open the service to the public.