Amazon’s Zoox expands its robotaxi service to Las Vegas airport

Amazon's Zoox has expanded its robotaxi service to include rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Customers can now request rides to the airport starting Thursday, capitalizing on a crucial ride-hailing destination. This move comes after Zoox received a two-year exemption from certain motor vehicle safety standards in August, enabling it to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles for commercial use.

The company began charging for rides on August 10 and has plans to test its self-driving vehicles in San Diego and Houston. With its unique service, Zoox appears to have an advantage over traditional ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft in picking up and dropping off passengers at the airport. While Uber and Lyft drop off passengers at the curb near baggage claim, Zoox's robotaxi can pick up and drop off passengers at both airport terminals near baggage claim, making it a more convenient option for travelers.

Despite being the only robotaxi company operating in the Las Vegas airport, competition is on the horizon. Several autonomous vehicle companies, including Tesla, Uber, and Waymo, recently received permits from the Nevada Transportation Authority to operate commercial robotaxi services in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located.

These permits would allow up to 8,000 robotaxis to be deployed across the county within the next year.