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Posted on the 19th June 2025 in PHTM News
AMAZONS ZOOX ACCELERATES ROBOTAXI PRODUCTION, TARGETS 10,000 UNITS ANNUALLY BY 2027
Amazon is making a significant push into the burgeoning autonomous vehicle market, announcing plans to produce up to 10,000 robotaxis annually by 2027 at its new 220,000-square-foot Zoox factory near Silicon Valley.
This ambitious move signals a direct challenge to Waymo's established dominance and intensifies the race as Tesla also vies for a slice of the self-driving taxi industry.
The production facility, unveiled on Wednesday, June 18, marks a pivotal step in Amazon's long-term investment in pioneering vehicle technology, an effort that dates back to 2009 when rival Waymo began its secretive work within Google.
Amazon cemented its entry into the self-driving cab business five years ago with a $1.2 billion investment in startup Zoox.
Zoox aims to launch its commercial ride-hailing service in Las Vegas later in 2025, with plans to expand to San Francisco shortly thereafter.
The company's unique, carriage-like vehicles, designed with seating for up to four people and no steering wheel or pedals, aim to differentiate themselves from Waymo's offerings, which typically integrate self-driving technology into traditional car models from established automakers.
While Zoox currently produces only one robotaxi per day at its high-tech Hayward facility, officials stated their ambition to scale up to three vehicles per hour in the future. By 2027, the company anticipates manufacturing 10,000 robotaxis annually to support a growing fleet across major cities including Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet, has a considerable head start, having launched robotaxis in Phoenix nearly five years ago and charging riders in San Francisco since 2023. The company has since expanded to Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, reporting over 10 million paid rides.
Waymo also announced plans on Wednesday to begin testing its robotaxis in New York City and expects to expand operations to Atlanta and Miami.
Meanwhile, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk has indicated a "tentative" launch of its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on June 22, utilising modified Model Y vehicles. Musk has historically made ambitious predictions for Tesla's self-driving capabilities, though the widespread rollout of a fully autonomous fleet remains to be seen.
As the competition heats up, the focus remains on mass production and scaling operations to meet the demands of an expansive robotaxi fleet.
Amazon believes its new Hayward plant, spanning the equivalent of three-and-a-half football fields, is the answer to this manufacturing challenge, positioning Zoox to become a major player in the evolving landscape of urban autonomous transportation.
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