Zoox Introduces Next-Generation Robotaxi – CleanTechnica

Support CleanTechnica’s work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe.

Zoox sort of feels like the robotaxi company that’s often forgotten. Or maybe that’s just me. You’ve got Waymo, which has been in this field for more than 15 years and is operating at the highest scale in the US, you’ve got Tesla and all of the press it gets for its robotaxi plans, you’ve got the various Chinese robotaxi companies, and then you’ve got little Zoox. Cute, fun, but serious?

Well, Zoox does keep rolling forward, and it is backed by Amazon. Now the company has also just launched the next evolution of its robotaxi. The core message from Zoox on the new vehicle: “A more comfortable, intuitive experience as we prepare to welcome more riders.”

It does look like the most inviting of all the robotaxi models I’ve seen, but close to Waymo’s new Ojai model.

The team has been keen to do things as perfectly as possible for a new era of robotaxi use, and it has custom designed its vehicles from the beginning for that purpose, rather than starting off with normal consumer passenger vehicles sold on the auto market like Waymo and Tesla have done. “Since our inception in 2014, Zoox has taken a unique approach to solving autonomy: building a purpose-built robotaxi from the ground up for a fully driverless ridehailing experience,” the company writes. “Starting with a blank sheet meant we could design around riders, not drivers. By eliminating unnecessary driving controls, Zoox created a symmetrical, spacious cabin that delivers safety and comfort levels not found in traditional cars. Its signature carriage-style seating further distinguishes the vehicle, creating a social, face-to-face riding environment.”

So, why come out with a new design? Well, the company admits it has learned some lessons and ways to improve the design — from their own testing and from early customer use and feedback (referencing feedback from half a million riders already).

Here are details on what’s been updated: “The cabin’s interior CMF (color, material, and finish) has been updated to a lighter color palette. Riders will notice monochrome aloe green seating and stone-grey flooring and trim. The simplified, tonal color scheme creates a calmer, more inviting environment that aligns with our intentional approach to reduce visual distractions so riders can relax and enjoy the ride. The updated CMF on the charging pad, cupholders, and flooring makes everyday items, like bags and phones, easier to spot so you won’t leave them behind, while offering better resistance to the wear and tear of city life. […] Rider-favorite features have also been refined, including a more vivid touchscreen, fluting on the charging pad for stability, and larger cupholders to keep our riders’ beverages secure as they ride.” They’ve also added padding and ergonomic curves to the seats based on rider feedback in order to improve comfort.

“The updates we’ve made to this iteration of our purpose-built robotaxi continue to further distinguish the Zoox experience from anything else available today,” says Chris Stoffel, Director, Robot Industrial Design and Studio Engineering. “The simplicity of the elevated interior design does not demand a rider’s attention like so many of the features found in today’s passenger cars. Instead, riders can relax and enjoy the space as they are transported throughout the city.”

On the outside, honestly, I can’t tell what has changed, aside from the paint color. I feel like I’m noticing something different, but since I can’t pick out details, I guess I’m not. After the picture, I’ll share what the company says.

“Our unique bidirectional reflectors rotate color to clearly distinguish the robotaxi’s front from its rear. These have been refined and relocated for better visibility and integration into the vehicle exterior. We’ve also improved the door interface with a new speaker and microphone, and added additional two-way audio capabilities. These improvements ensure clearer communication to our riders and other road users, as well as between Zoox Support and first responders.” Hmm. I see….

The rest of the update is all around the company’s plans to scale up. Zoox appears ready to roll out its service in more cities and ramp up vehicle production to make that possible. “This latest evolution of the Zoox robotaxi is our production intent vehicle, and we will soon be moving into large-scale production at our robotaxi serial production facility in Hayward, California. These robotaxis will join the fleet across our markets and become available to riders later this year as they come off the production line. We have the capability to ramp production up to a rate of 100 vehicles a week to support our expansions this year, subject to regulatory approval.

“This latest Zoox robotaxi represents more than just the next evolution of our vehicle; it’s the foundation for bringing autonomous ride-hailing to more riders at a greater scale. Every robotaxi that rolls off the line brings us one step closer to our vision of building a safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable future on the road.”

So, yeah, 100 vehicles a week is not a lot compared to what Waymo and Tesla are aiming to do this year. But the more, the merrier — and it’s progress. That’s just about 5,000 a year, but if all goes well in the company’s next stage of deployment, one would think the production capacity could be ramped up quickly.

Zoox is still just operating in Las Vegas. You can get the Zoox app to enjoy the service there, or to sign up for waitlists in other cities Zoox could eventually enter.