Zoox to charge for Las Vegas robotaxi rides starting August 10

Zoox will begin charging passengers for robotaxi rides in Las Vegas on August 10, making it the first company in the United States to collect fares in a purpose-built autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or brake pedal. The Amazon-owned company has provided nearly one million rides across Las Vegas, San Francisco, Austin and Miami since opening free public service last year, and Las Vegas now becomes its first commercial market. Zoox said fares will be quoted upfront and locked at booking even if traffic or rerouting makes the trip longer, while third-party estimates tied to its stated comfort-tier pricing place rides about 20% to 40% above UberX. Trips will be available through the Zoox app at launch, with Uber integration planned later this year under a March partnership. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cleared paid operations under a two-year federal exemption effective July 31 and capped at 2,500 vehicles a year, while Nevada's rules allow Zoox to start in Las Vegas before California, where separate state approvals are still required. Zoox is launching with about 105 robotaxis, the same fleet covered by a July recall after a vehicle entered a Las Vegas fire scene in June. The move also makes Las Vegas the first U.S. city with two competing paid driverless services after Waymo's July 8 launch there.