Zoox, a subsidiary of Amazon, announced Monday that it has put into service on a short stretch of public road in California for the first time vehicles it has designed to be fully autonomous, without steering wheels or pedals, AFP reported.
But travel is limited: Passengers are group employees who are transported for free, and authorities have authorized the shuttle to run a 1-mile route between two buildings at the company’s Foster City headquarters.
But it marks a milestone for the company, which it says is the world’s first vehicle designed specifically for full autonomy.
Other companies, such as Alphabet subsidiary Waymo and General Motors subsidiary Cruise, have been deploying self-driving cars in limited areas for several years, but they still have a driver’s seat, steering wheel and pedals should a human need to take control.
“Announcing the first ride of our unmanned employee shuttle, we’re adding to the progress the industry has made over the past year and getting closer to commercializing an autonomous taxi service for the general public,” said Zoox CEO Aycha Evans.
Photo: Dreamstime
Source: Hot News
Lori Barajas is an accomplished journalist, known for her insightful and thought-provoking writing on economy. She currently works as a writer at 247 news reel. With a passion for understanding the economy, Lori’s writing delves deep into the financial issues that matter most, providing readers with a unique perspective on current events.