Experiencing Zoox: A Glimpse Into the Future of Autonomous Mobility

While attending AWS re:Invent in Las Vegas, it was impossible to miss a small fleet of

elegant, symmetrical, steering-wheel-free vehicles gliding confidently through the city. Zoox.

Acquired by Amazon in 2020, Zoox has become one of the most anticipated players in the autonomous mobility space, joining companies like Waymo, Motional, Cruise, and Beep in shaping what transportation looks like in the United States. What sets Zoox apart is its design. Rather than retrofitting an existing car, Zoox was engineered from day one as a dedicated robotaxi designed entirely around the passenger experience.

A Ride Built for the Rider

During re:Invent, visitors were invited to try Zoox for free. Easy to use, you request the vehicle through the Zoox app. When your robotaxi arrives, you unlock the doors through the app, step inside, and tap GO.

Inside, the vehicle feels more like a modern lounge than a car. There are four seats facing inward, each with its own touchscreen to control climate, music, and access support. A central display tracks your route and arrival time. The vehicle moves with intention, with smooth acceleration, confident turns and speeds up to roughly 45mph within the Las Vegas service zone.

As with any early autonomous deployment, Zoox is operating within a limited range in Las Vegas. Even still, we found creative ways to use the service throughout the week, enough to understand what makes their approach compelling.

Zoox to open next in San Francisco, Austin, and Miami

According to Zoox public updates, the company is moving quickly.

On November 18, 2025, Zoox announced the launch of its Explorers Program in San Francisco, inviting the public off its waitlist to ride for free and share feedback as the service prepares to scale.

Key details from Zoox public release:

• Riders can join the waitlist by downloading the Zoox app (iOS or Android).

• The initial service area includes SoMa, the Mission, and the Design District.

• Trips are point to point, with drop-offs near the destination and walking directions if needed.

• Rides are free during the early rollout.

• Zoox launched its Las Vegas service in September 2025 and continues adding destinations.

• The company plans future expansion into Austin and Miami.

Aicha Evans, Zoox CEO, noted in the announcement that San Francisco, where Zoox has been testing since 2017, is the company’s home and "a city of innovation and progress" that aligns with their vision.

Designed Differently

When riding in a Zoox it’s obvious that every detail centers around the rider.

Industry colleagues who work in autonomous systems often point out that Zoox's biggest advantage is this ground-up design philosophy. It removes many of the constraints traditional vehicles face when being retrofitted for autonomy.

A Conversation on the Conference Floor

During re:Invent, I recorded a conversation with Emilio Baez from Developers.Net, where we discussed both the Zoox ride experience and best practices for networking effectively at large conferences. You can watch the full video below.

What This Means for Cities

As autonomous vehicles expand into major urban centers, their impact will reach far beyond transportation. They have the potential to influence:

• Local business traffic

• Urban planning

• Safety and congestion

• Tourism and hospitality

• Accessibility for residents and workers

Zoox has already begun partnering with local businesses such as Tartine Manufactory in San Francisco to integrate mobility with community destinations. It is a glimpse of what a connected urban ecosystem could look like.

While using the Zoox a number of times over our 5 days in Vegas, using it to get around felt less like testing a prototype and more like catching an early glimpse of an inevitable future. The vehicle is confident, the interface is intuitive and the absence of a driver fades quickly into the background as the experience becomes natural.

The future is exciting and when you experience something as fascinating as the Zoox your mind will wander with how you’ll get to and from appointments, the grocery store and more. I’m excited to see the next few years and how widely and quickly autonomous robotaxis become part of our daily life.