Zoox has successfully begun the world's first purpose-built robotaxi service on open public roads with the launch of its employee shuttle service in California. The design solution is intended to serve as a pilot beta test for its broader service.

In spring 2023, Zoox introduced a new mobility option to its employees: a shuttle service between its two main office buildings in Foster City, California, which utilizes Zoox's purpose-built fully autonomous, fully electric robotaxi. The inaugural run of the service marked the first time in the world that a purpose-built robotaxi without traditional driving controls (i.e. the Zoox robotaxi does not have a steering wheel or pedals) carried passengers on public roads.

The introduction of the robotaxi shuttle not only offers a new efficient and safe mobility experience for Zoox employees between offices (while allowing them to experience the product they are building), but it also serves as an opportunity for the company to extract key learnings that can be implemented into its future commercial service operations. Along the public roads route between Zoox offices, the robotaxi travels up to 35 mph, and navigates left-hand and right-hand turns, traffic lights, bicyclists, pedestrians, vehicles, and other road agents.

In traditional passenger vehicles, the vehicle is designed around the driver, and in many of today's vehicles only the driver and front passengers have airbag protection. The Zoox robotaxi is a modern-day carriage that seats four passengers facing each other. The design of the vehicle reimagines passenger vehicle design, with a focus on improving passenger safety and experience for all riders. The goal is for riders to not even think about driving while they are in a Zoox. This marks a large milestone toward bringing the Zoox purpose-built robotaxi service to the general public.

We at Zoox see our employee shuttle service milestone as moving one step closer to realizing the next frontier of safer, cleaner, and more equitable transportation for all. Our vehicle has been designed to navigate dense, urban environments, and with that, we've had to better understand the needs of people in cities. Through our years of operation, we've come to understand the extent of the discrepancy in people's access to transportation. Transportation hurdles make people's lives harder – not only their commutes. Through this lens, developing purpose-built autonomous vehicles is even more than an exciting design challenge. It's a people issue. How can we find ways for everyone – regardless of their socioeconomic status or where they live in a city – to safely and efficiently get to where they need to?

In contrast to autonomous vehicle competitors, Zoox has opted to design an all electric vehicle specifically designed from the ground up for ride-hailing. The ground-up design and tightly integrated hardware and software platforms will revolutionize the user experience as compared to conventional retrofits (which were designed for drivers, rather than riders).

The journey towards the debut of Zoox's employee shuttle required completing numerous simulated scenarios, rigorous testing on private roads and closed courses, and receiving approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to operate our robotaxi on public roads. Zoox is the only purpose-built robotaxi permitted on California public roads that is certified to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Contrary to others in the space who have asked for regulatory exemptions, Zoox took a different approach, choosing to certify its vehicle to existing federal vehicle safety performance requirements needed to operate on public roads. This is the same process that is required of any automotive manufacturer whose vehicles will operate on public roads in the United States.

As the first autonomous vehicle company to certify a purpose-built robotaxi, Zoox was challenged to demonstrate how its vehicle met – and where possible, exceeded – the safety criteria set forth by the FMVSS. A team of safety and design professionals at Zoox, with hundreds of years of collective experience, developed and completed a series of physical tests, computer simulations, engineering analyses, and technical milestones. The process also included numerous tests at independent test labs and through our suppliers. For example, Zoox conducted its crash tests at an independent test lab that also does crash testing for NHTSA.

Because we chose to build from the ground up, it allowed us to not only incorporate FMVSS performance requirements, but to design and build beyond what is required. This resulted in the addition of more than 100 new safety innovations not available in traditional passenger cars, into our vehicle. For example, to ensure equivalent safety for each rider in a Zoox vehicle, we had to work from the premise that no seat is more likely than any other to be occupied by a passenger. We believe all riders deserve the same amount of protection, regardless of seating position. Which is why we reimagined the airbag for a new kind of vehicle. The unique Zoox airbag system consists of several distinct airbag types: horseshoe curtain airbags, frontal airbags, rear airbags, side head airbags, and seat side airbags. The same goes for our seat belt design. While no Zoox vehicle will begin operation until all passengers have properly and securely fastened their seat belts, we have also designed our own proprietary three-input safety system that leverages sensors, switches, and cameras to ensure proper seat belt usage.

After many years riding in the robotaxi on private roads and test tracks, the inaugural run of the employee shuttle service was also the first time that Zoox co-founder and CTO, Jesse Levinson, rode in the vehicle on open public roads. Following his initial ride, Levinson stated, "Getting to be the world's first passenger in a robotaxi with no manual controls on open public roads, along with [CEO] Aicha this past Saturday, was one of the highlights of my life. But what made me happiest was seeing the beaming smiles on our team members when they completed their rides. I can't wait for everyone to experience that magic."

To date, the feedback from the employee shuttle service has been very positive. Even those Zoox employees who were somewhat skeptical shared that the ride was better than what they could have imagined. One manager at Zoox described the experience as, "really incredible. Being a passenger as the robot accelerated to 35 mph was a completely different feeling compared to the low-speed rides I had gotten [during testing]. On top of that, the suspension provided a smooth experience even when entering/exiting the [vehicle]. Really looking forward to my next ride!"

The Zoox company culture is very transparent, and our employees know that the debut of the autonomous shuttle between offices is evidence that the technology and all of their hard work has materialized, and that the company is one step closer to launching our commercial service.

The potential societal benefits are tremendous, but we still have a long road ahead. The employee shuttle is an important first step. Even after we commercialize, our service will expand and become more affordable over time; we certainly won't solve everything right away. But we couldn't be more excited to help address some of society's oldest issues by dismantling historic transportation hurdles and bringing safe, clean, and enjoyable transportation to everyone through our vehicle design and ride hailing service. While we're starting with our employees, we're looking forward to the day that anyone can ride along in a Zoox.