Zoox Opens 220,000-Square-Foot Facility for Robotaxi Production

Amazon’s robotaxi subsidiary, Zoox, has inaugurated a new 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Hayward, California. This facility is designed to produce thousands of self-driving vehicles, marking a significant milestone in Zoox's journey towards commercializing its robotaxi service. The company aims to eventually assemble more than 10,000 of these vehicles annually, although it may take some time to reach full capacity, as commercial operations have not yet begun.

Zoox has been developing self-driving car technology since 2014 and started offering rides in its pod-like vehicles to employees and select invitees in the Bay Area and Las Vegas in 2023. The company has also expanded its fleet of test vehicles, which include Toyota Highlander Hybrids equipped with radar and lidar sensors, into Austin and Miami. These test vehicles are operated by safety drivers and are crucial for gathering data and refining the technology before the commercial launch.

As Zoox prepares for the commercial launch of its robotaxi service, slated for later this year, it has faced several challenges. In April, the company recalled 258 vehicles to update its software after two accidents involving motorcyclists. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary investigation but closed it after Zoox issued a software update. In May, Zoox conducted two more recalls—one after a collision with a passenger vehicle in Las Vegas and another after an incident involving a scooter in an unoccupied taxi.

Zoox's approach to developing a "purpose-built" robotaxi, which lacks traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals, sets it apart from competitors. While other companies, such as Waymo and Tesla, have showcased similar designs, none are currently using such vehicles on public roads. This unique design presents its own set of challenges, including the need for emergency responders to familiarize themselves with these vehicles and the difficulty of moving them if they get stuck. Zoox's CEO, Aicha Evans, has acknowledged that remote assistance may not always be sufficient, and towing may be necessary in some scenarios.

The Department of Transportation has indicated plans to streamline the exemption process for vehicles like Zoox's robotaxi, which could make it easier for companies to get approvals to operate such vehicles more quickly. Zoox has self-certified that its purpose-built robotaxis already meet all federal safety guidelines.

With the opening of its new manufacturing facility, Zoox will dedicate its previous assembly facility in Fremont, California, to retrofitting its testing fleet with its autonomous system and software, as well as for sensor pod configuration. The company first took over the building in 2023 and started using it for robotaxi assembly at the end of last year. Currently, there are about 100 employees working out of the Fremont facility, and Zoox is hiring for more manufacturing, engineering, logistics, and operations roles as it plans to scale up its manufacturing capabilities.