Amazon's Zoox has struck its first partnership with a third-party platform, agreeing a multiyear deal with Uber to make its boxy, purpose-built robotaxis bookable through the Uber app in Las Vegas this summer and in Los Angeles the following year, the companies announced on Wednesday.
The alliance gives Uber another autonomous vehicle partner as it pushes to position its platform as the preferred distribution channel for robotaxi operators. By the end of 2026, Uber aims to offer driverless rides in 15 cities, adding to existing driverless options in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas and Phoenix in the United States, as well as several cities in the Middle East through a range of partners.
For Zoox, the deal represents a meaningful step in commercialisation after years of development under Amazon, which acquired the company in 2020. Zoox began offering free driverless rides last year around the Las Vegas Strip and in certain San Francisco neighbourhoods, accumulating more than 300,000 riders, though it has not yet begun charging fares. Zoox will continue to operate rides through its own app alongside the Uber integration.
"This partnership is an opportunity to continue advancing the use of autonomous mobility in daily life," said Zoox chief executive Aicha Evans. "Through our collaboration, Zoox will provide a differentiated rider experience to those who already know and love the convenience of riding with Uber."
The robotaxis, widely nicknamed "toasters" because of their distinctive shape, feature a low step, doors that open and close automatically, and seats that face each other. The vehicles have a top speed of 75 mph but typically operate at or below 45 mph.
The commercial rollout, however, hinges on regulatory clearance. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened public comments on Tuesday on Zoox's petition seeking permission to operate up to 2,500 vehicles on US roads. Regulators had previously granted approval only for the company's custom-built vehicles to be used for research and demonstration purposes.
Uber's chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, has made no secret of his conviction that his company's network offers autonomous vehicle operators a structural advantage. During Uber's fourth-quarter earnings call in February, Khosrowshahi told analysts that autonomous vehicles available via Uber attain "significantly higher utilisation" than those hailed through stand-alone platforms, citing publicly available data. Trips per autonomous vehicle per day are 30 per cent higher on Uber, he said.
Amazon's push comes as it trails well behind the market leader. Alphabet's Waymo reported in February that it had surpassed 400,000 weekly rides across six US metro areas and is now operating commercially in 10 US cities, with expansion to London and Tokyo planned for 2026. In Asia, Baidu's Apollo Go reported peak weekly rides exceeding 300,000 in the fourth quarter, while rivals WeRide and Pony.AI continue to expand their footprints.
The competitive landscape is also shifting in other directions. Tesla has launched a Robotaxi-branded app and ride-sharing service and has begun testing a small number of driverless vehicles in Austin. As first-party robotaxi brands grow more familiar to riders, they could over time erode market share from Uber and rivals such as Lyft and China's DiDi.
Earlier this week, Zoox also announced an expansion of its testing operations across cities in the South, suggesting the company is accelerating its geographic reach even as the regulatory process plays out in Washington.
