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Amazon’s Zoox Begins Free Robotaxi Rides in San Francisco to Challenge Waymo

California regulators have not yet cleared Zoox to collect fares in the city.

Overview

  • Access to the rollout is limited to select neighborhoods and available only to users on a waitlist, with rides offered at no cost.
  • Zoox awaits state approval to charge passengers in San Francisco, whereas Waymo has been authorized to collect fares there since August 2023, a contrast drawing added scrutiny after a recent Waymo vehicle fatally struck a cat.
  • Waymo remains the frontrunner and announced plans to add Miami, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, and Orlando, with rider requests expected to begin next year.
  • Amazon converted a former bus plant in Hayward into a Zoox facility that targets production of up to 10,000 purpose‑built robotaxis per year.
  • The free trials are intended to familiarize riders with the service and to gather real‑world data to refine Zoox’s autonomous driving system.