Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company, has made significant strides in its mission to make self-driving taxis a reality. During a recent test ride at CES 2025, the company's next-generation robotaxi demonstrated impressive capabilities, navigating complex scenarios with ease and showcasing a notable improvement in comfort and safety.

The one-hour ride along the Las Vegas Strip was a testament to the company's progress, with the robotaxi handling a construction zone, a car crash, and a double-parked truck with confidence and precision. The vehicle's ability to adapt to unexpected situations, such as a motorcycle cop with its lights deployed, was particularly impressive. While the ride wasn't entirely flawless, the minor issues that arose were minimal and short-lived, and the overall experience felt surprisingly normal.

Zoox co-founder and CTO Jesse Levinson, who accompanied me on the ride, emphasized the company's goal of making autonomous taxis as commonplace as hailing an Uber or Lyft. The progress made by Zoox employees across its various locations, including Las Vegas, Foster City, California, and Boston, is a significant step towards achieving that goal.

The next-generation Zoox robotaxi features a range of hardware upgrades and changes, including improvements to the suspension, brakes, electronic drive units, and more powerful and efficient computers. The vehicle's interior has also been revamped, with a more comfortable bench and tweaks to the touchscreen user interface. A two-way audio interface on the exterior of the door allows the Zoox operations team to communicate with first responders and law enforcement, a feature that was previously lacking.

Zoox began testing its purpose-built, electric, autonomous robotaxis on public streets in Las Vegas over a year ago, starting with a small one-mile loop around its facilities. The company has since expanded its testing area to include the Las Vegas Strip and adjacent roads. While the robotaxi is not yet open to the public, Zoox plans to launch public rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco in 2025.

During my ride, the Zoox robotaxi accelerated smoothly and changed lanes with confidence, without the stutter or hesitation often experienced in demo rides with other companies. However, there were some areas for improvement, such as the vehicle's tendency to slow down abruptly at traffic lights and its stiff suspension. Additionally, the robotaxi's decision-making in certain scenarios, such as merging into a lane, was occasionally reminiscent of a less-experienced driver.

Despite these minor issues, the Zoox robotaxi's ability to handle complex scenarios, such as car crashes, was impressive. In one instance, the vehicle slowed down and came to a stop several car lengths before the next vehicle, which had been involved in an accident. The robotaxi then backed up slowly and merged into the next lane, all within a minute. This level of situational awareness and adaptability is crucial for the success of autonomous vehicles.

The ability to execute driverless rides safely is a critical foundation for building a commercial operation. With its next-generation robotaxi, Zoox has demonstrated that it is ready for the next big leap: opening its doors to the public. As the company prepares to launch public rides in 2025, it will be interesting to see how its technology continues to evolve and improve.

In conclusion, Zoox's progress in autonomous driving is a significant step forward for the industry. With its focus on comfort, safety, and adaptability, the company is well-positioned to make self-driving taxis a reality. As the autonomous vehicle landscape continues to evolve, Zoox is likely to play a major role in shaping the future of transportation.