Amazon’s Zoox to Ramp Up Robotaxi Production Ahead of U.S. Launch

Amazon-backed autonomous vehicle startup Zoox is preparing to significantly expand production in 2025 as it moves toward a commercial launch of its self-driving robotaxi service in the United States, according to the Financial Times. The company, acquired by Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) for $1.3 billion in 2020, will open a new facility in California’s Bay Area to scale operations beyond its current small production site in Fremont.

Zoox co-founder Jesse Levinson stated that the expansion aims to boost manufacturing capacity in anticipation of public ride launches. Currently, Zoox has tested around two dozen vehicles in six major U.S. cities. The company is set to begin offering public rides in Las Vegas later this year, with San Francisco to follow.

This move comes amid a broader push in the self-driving car industry, as U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced plans to ease regulations for autonomous vehicles, fostering faster deployment and innovation. Zoox’s rapid scale-up reflects rising competition, particularly from Chinese firms and major U.S. players.

Alphabet’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Waymo has already launched fully public autonomous ride services in multiple cities, while Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) introduced its Cybercab robotaxi in 2024 and is targeting mass production by 2026.

Zoox’s latest efforts position Amazon to compete more aggressively in the growing autonomous mobility space. With increased production capabilities and planned service rollouts in key U.S. cities, the company aims to be a major player in the evolving robotaxi market. The expansion also highlights Amazon’s broader ambitions in AI and transportation technology, as it bets on the long-term potential of driverless ride-sharing solutions.