Amazon's Zoox is gearing up to ramp up its robotaxi production with a significant expansion planned for 2026. This move is part of Zoox's broader strategy to launch its self-driving fleet commercially across the United States. A new manufacturing facility is slated to open in California's Bay Area, augmenting its existing Fremont operations. This expansion aims to enable the production of hundreds, and eventually thousands, of the company's unique robotaxis, which are being rolled out without steering wheels, as reported by the Financial Times.

Currently, Zoox is operating about two dozen of these custom-designed vehicles in six American cities, with public ride services expected to debut later this year in Las Vegas, followed by a launch in San Francisco. This operational phase aligns with the U.S. government's efforts to relax regulations surrounding autonomous vehicles, facilitating quicker deployment on public roads. Zoox's strategic timing comes in light of mounting competition from companies like BYD, Waymo, and Tesla. Tesla is prepping for mass production of self-driving taxis next year, joining Waymo, which already offers a full public service.

Since Amazon acquired Zoox for $1.3 billion in 2020, the company has expanded to around 2,500 employees and leased a sizable office space in Foster City, California. Despite facing a minor collision incident recently in Las Vegas, which prompted a temporary vehicle recall to update its software, Zoox has resumed testing, underscoring its commitment to maintaining safety and advancing its commercial ambitions.