In a significant milestone for the future of transportation, Zoox, a company under Amazon’s umbrella, has inaugurated its first comprehensive production facility. This state-of-the-art site is designed with the ambitious goal of producing up to 10,000 robotaxis annually, marking a pivotal shift from development to large-scale manufacturing.
The opening of this facility is a crucial advancement in Zoox’s journey as it transitions from the conceptual phase to real-world applications. Currently, the company is actively testing its autonomous vehicles across various cities in the United States, including offering rides to select participants in Las Vegas. This early-access program is set to expand into San Francisco later this year, with plans to initiate paid public rides in Las Vegas as well.
Spanning an impressive 220,000 square feet, the new factory is strategically located in Hayward, California, close to Zoox’s headquarters in Foster City. This facility represents the second production site for the company in the Bay Area, complementing an existing assembly warehouse in Fremont.
At the Hayward facility, Zoox will focus on engineering, software and hardware integration, assembly, storage, and rigorous testing. The factory is set to produce custom-designed robotaxis tailored for various commercial markets, starting with Las Vegas and subsequently expanding to San Francisco. Future plans also include launching robotaxi services in Austin and Miami within the next few years.
One of the standout features of this facility is its innovative layout and specialized equipment, which will allow for flexibility in adapting to new vehicle designs as the robotaxi fleet evolves. The production process will involve a combination of human labor and robotic assistance, with human workers primarily responsible for the majority of tasks. Robots will be utilized for specific functions, such as applying adhesives for glass installation and moving the robotaxis along the assembly line.
Note: This article has been updated to clarify the current status of Zoox’s early-rider program and the timeline for commercial operations, confirming that the program is active in Las Vegas and that paid rides will commence this year.
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