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Zoox, Amazon's autonomous vehicle company, has unveiled a redesigned version of its purpose-built robotaxi featuring interior comfort upgrades and exterior communication improvements as it prepares for commercial deployment later this year. The updates are based on feedback from over 500,000 riders and aim to enhance the passenger experience while the company awaits regulatory approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to operate without traditional controls. Source: TechCrunch
Inside, Zoox added more padding and ergonomic curves to seats and headrests, switched to a lighter color palette of aloe-green seating and stone-grey flooring, and installed larger cupholders and a more vivid touchscreen. A redesigned wireless charging pad with fluting keeps phones in place. Outside, the bidirectional reflectors were relocated for better visibility and can now rotate colors to indicate direction, while a new speaker and microphone enable two-way audio for communication with riders, road users, and first responders. Source: Engadget, The Verge
Zoox is producing the updated model at its Hayward, California factory, with capacity to build up to 100 vehicles per week. However, commercial deployment hinges on NHTSA granting an exemption from federal safety standards that require steering wheels and pedals. The agency previously granted a demonstration exemption in August 2025, and a ruling on the commercial exemption is pending after a public comment period closed in March 2026. Meanwhile, Zoox offers free rides in Austin, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Miami, and has partnered with Uber to integrate its vehicles into the Uber app in Las Vegas. Source: CNBC, The Next Web While Zoox aims to catch up, competitor Waymo operates over 3,000 robotaxis and recently surpassed 500,000 weekly paid rides. Source: Gizmodo
“The company relocated the vehicle's bidirectional reflectors for better visibility and made them rotate colors to better distinguish its front from its rear... It also gave the speaker and microphone on the door two-way audio capabilities to enable communication between riders and road users...”
“Zoox says the updates to the vehicle come from lessons learned during testing and feedback from half a million riders.”
“Zoox has brightened the interior’s color palette, with 'monochrome aloe green seating and stone-grey flooring and trim.' This helps create a more soothing experience, while also creating a contrast to make it easier to spot any darker colored personal items...”
“Zoox still has one major hurdle to pass before it will launch production in earnest — or offer paid rides. The company has requested a commercial exemption for its robotaxi since its lacks standard controls mandated by federal law.”
“Zoox is also enlarging and relocating the robotaxi's 'bidirectional reflectors,' which help riders and others such as law enforcement distinguish the vehicle's front from its rear, so that they're easier to spot.”