Uber to also offer robotaxis from Amazon subsidiary Zoox
Zoox has been operating its driverless ride-hailing service in the first two US cities since the second half of 2025. After the company’s autonomous electric shuttles launched in September in Las Vegas, Zoox also began operations in November—as previously reported—in San Francisco, California. What sets Zoox apart is its vehicle: first unveiled as a prototype in 2020, it was developed from the ground up without a steering wheel, pedals, or driver’s seat and can accommodate up to four passengers. As a fully electric vehicle, it does not resemble a passenger car but rather a shuttle.Until now, Zoox has operated its vehicles and booking app independently. The new partnership with Uber marks its first collaboration with a third-party platform. However, both parties emphasise that booking the vehicles will continue to be possible via the Zoox app, with the Uber platform serving as an additional option.“The Zoox robotaxi is unlike any other vehicle on the planet – it was purpose-built from the ground up to deliver an extraordinary experience,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. “Zoox’s commitment to safety and their advanced autonomous driving technology make them an ideal partner. We’re thrilled to work together to introduce more riders to the future of mobility.”“We are excited to partner with Uber, a company that shares our vision for transforming mobility,” said Aicha Evans, CEO of Zoox. “This partnership is an opportunity to continue advancing the use of autonomous mobility in daily life. Through our collaboration, Zoox will provide a differentiated rider experience to those who already know and love the convenience of riding with Uber.”Additionally, Zoox has just announced that it is now beginning test drives in Dallas and Phoenix. Tests are already underway in Seattle, Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. The process involves Zoox initially mapping each city manually using retrofitted SUVs before commencing autonomous tests. During these tests, a safety driver is always present behind the wheel, ready to intervene and deactivate the AI if necessary. Once testing with the retrofitted SUVs and safety drivers is complete, Zoox’s custom-developed robotaxis will conduct their own test drives in these cities. According to Zoox, the company plans to launch its robotaxi service in Austin and Miami next, following the completion of these tests. However, there has been no mention yet of any plans to collaborate with Uber in these locations.Over the past year, Uber has announced a series of partnerships with robotaxi providers, most recently with tech startup Wayve, which aims to integrate its technology into Nissan vehicles. Other partners include Volkswagen, which plans to deploy thousands of driverless vans of the ID. Buzz AD model on US roads in collaboration with Uber. There are also Lucid and Nuro, who, together with Uber, are planning at least 20,000 autonomous vehicles based on the Lucid Gravity for the Uber platform.uber.com, zoox.com (test drives)
