Zoox to charge for robotaxi rides in Las Vegas starting August 10

Zoox will start charging passengers for its customized autonomous electric vehicle rides in Las Vegas on August 10, 2026, the Amazon.com Inc. subsidiary said on August 5, ending nearly a year of free public demonstrations.

A temporary exemption from federal motor vehicle safety standards, granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, enables the company to commercialize the service. The two-year exemption covers up to 2,500 vehicles and suspends eight Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including those for windshield defrosting and light vehicle braking systems, because the cube-shaped robotaxi lacks a steering wheel and pedals.

Fares will consist of a base charge plus a component for distance and time, with the total shown before booking and locked even if the vehicle takes a different route. Destination fees may apply for trips to or from the airport or high-demand events at venues such as the Sphere or T-Mobile Arena. The company aims to match the “comfort” pricing tier of traditional ride-hail operators.

Zoox also operates robotaxis in San Francisco and Austin, but those rides remain free for now. In California, the company still needs two additional permits before it can charge riders commercially.

Founded in 2014, Zoox was purchased by Amazon in 2020 and unveiled its purpose-built robotaxi later that year. Over the subsequent six years, the startup has tested the vehicles, updated hardware, navigated funding challenges, secured permits, and handled several recalls.