I rode a fully autonomous taxi in Las Vegas and experienced the ride-hailing UX and autonomous driving
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Starting from fall 2025, Zoox, an autonomous mobility service operated by an Amazon subsidiary, has begun public road operations in Las Vegas.
In the previous article, I introduced the mobile app installation and account creation procedures.
In this article, I tested Zoox vehicles in Las Vegas, verifying the UX and driving behavior from ride request through the app to boarding and disembarking.
What is Zoox
Zoox is an autonomous driving technology company under Amazon. Since February 2023, they have been operating commercial services in Las Vegas, using Level 4 fully autonomous vehicles (Robotaxis) with a symmetrical design that has no driver's seat.
From Ride Request to Boarding
1. Route Selection and Ride Request
I made a reservation through the app near the boarding point (around Resorts World).
For this trip, I specified Luxor as my destination and requested a ride.
As of November 2025, Zoox rides were free, but payment information registration was required for first-time use.
*Credit cards issued in Japan could be used.
After submitting the request, the waiting time was displayed. During my Sunday evening test, it initially showed "44 minutes" wait time, but this constantly updated based on conditions.
In the end, the vehicle arrived in just under 30 minutes after the request.
2. Vehicle Arrival and Door Unlock Operation
The vehicle's current location could be tracked in real-time on the app map.
When the vehicle arrived at the boarding point, the app displayed instructions to unlock the door.
After pressing the button in the app, I confirmed that the vehicle's sliding door physically opened.
3. Boarding and In-Vehicle Behavior
After the door unlocked, I entered the vehicle.
The vehicle had no driver's equipment such as steering wheel or pedals, and featured face-to-face seating arrangement.
I noticed unique acceleration behavior when sitting in seats that faced away from the direction of travel.
Regarding driving behavior, I confirmed stable control with no sudden braking or unnatural lane changes.
I confirmed that the driving and cruising speeds were around 40-50 km/h. However, due to the low-floor design and low viewpoint, the perceived speed felt faster than in conventional cars.
4. Arrival and Disembarking
Upon arrival at the destination, the app displayed door unlock instructions similar to the boarding process.
I opened the door through the app and disembarked.
Service Specifications and Constraints
Pick-up/Drop-off Locations and Accessibility
I confirmed that the number of available boarding spots during daytime hours has expanded compared to the service launch in October 2024.
However, I observed that fewer boarding spots were available during nighttime hours.
From checking several pick-up/drop-off points, I found they were typically set at "rideshare stops" rather than hotel main entrances.
These locations can be difficult to access on foot from inside hotels, which might be challenging for first-time users.
Recommendation based on testing:
Zoox staff appeared to be stationed at the Resorts World boarding area.
For first-time users, I recommend using Uber or other rideshare services to get to the Zoox boarding area at Resorts World and starting your Zoox journey from there.
Wall advertisements for Zoox were prominently displayed and visible from the Strip.
Support System and Emergency Response
I confirmed that if you leave something in the vehicle, the support center will call directly to the phone number registered in the app.
When problems occur, the operation team provides proactive support without waiting for users to contact them.
Language Requirements
I confirmed that the entire process from ride request to payment can be completed through app operations only, meaning no English conversation is required for normal use.
However, as mentioned above, phone support may be necessary in case of trouble, so being able to communicate in English during emergencies would provide additional peace of mind.
Summary
I was able to experience Zoox's autonomous rideshare service in Las Vegas.
I confirmed that there were session slots and actual vehicle displays at the re:Invent venue. If you're attending in person, I recommend experiencing this next-generation transportation option.
