Zoox is an American autonomous vehicle company founded in 2014 by Tim Kentley-Klay and Jesse Levinson. Acquired by Amazon, it operates as a subsidiary focused on designing, building, and operating fully autonomous, all-electric robotaxis for urban transportation. The company currently runs vehicles on public roads in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Foster City.
Unlike most autonomous vehicle programmes that adapt existing cars, Zoox builds its vehicles from the ground up without a steering wheel or traditional driver controls. The robotaxi is bidirectional, uses four-wheel steering, and carries up to four passengers. The vehicle is designed entirely around the rider experience, with the assumption that no human driver will ever be at the controls.
The technical scope of the work spans autonomous driving systems, AI for vehicle operation, electric powertrain engineering, vehicle dynamics, safety systems, and human-machine interface design. Zoox integrates all of these disciplines internally, making it both a technology company and a vehicle manufacturer. Its operational geography gives engineers direct access to real-world urban driving conditions across multiple cities.