Mexican Media Brands
Zoox to Add Autonomous Testing in Las Vegas
California-based autonomous-car startup Zoox Inc. plans to begin testing self-driving electric vehicles in Las Vegas.
#hybrid
Share
California-based autonomous-car startup Zoox Inc., which already is testing self-driving electric cars in San Francisco, plans to expand to Las Vegas.
The company currently is mapping streets and planning routes in Las Vegas, co-founder and Chief Technical Officer Jesse Levinson tells attendees at a conference in San Francisco. He says the company will begin testing and validating its vehicles in the city in coming months with the goal of eventually launching a robo-taxi service there.
Earlier this year Zoox received permission from the Nevada Dept. of Motor Vehicles to use public roads to test self-driving vehicles with backup drivers on board. Las Vegas’ congested streets, reversible traffic right-of-ways, large number of pedestrians and complex pick-up and drop-off zones present unique challenges, Zoox notes.
Several other companies already are testing self-driving cars in Las Vegas. A joint program between Aptiv plc and Lyft Inc. reportedly has conducted more than 50,000 self-driving rides in the city.
Zoox has raised about $800 million in funding since it was founded in 2014. The company is developing its own autonomous-driving software, electric vehicle program and urban ride-hailing system. In February Zoox hired former Intel Corp. executive Aicha Evans as its CEO. She succeeded co-founder Tim Kentley-Klay, who was ousted last year.
RELATED CONTENT
-
The U.S. Military Finds New Roads: Fuel Cell Powered Pickups
While it seems that fuel efficiency as related to the U.S. federal government is all about light duty vehicles, that’s far from being the case.
-
On Ford Maverick, Toyota Tundra Hybrid, and GM's Factory Footprint
GM is transforming its approach to the auto market—and its factories. Ford builds a small truck for the urban market. Toyota builds a full-size pickup and uses a hybrid instead of a diesel. And Faurecia thinks that hydrogen is where the industry is going.
-
Can You Drive an EV in the Rain?
Although there is a veritable fleet of electric vehicles coming on the global market within the next few years, it seems that if the results of research in the United Kingdom track in any way with the rest of the world then the OEMs are in for a whole lot of electric vehicles sitting unsold in dealer lots.
