Autonomous vehicle production accelerates: Zoox unveils its new production facility
In a significant stride towards the future of autonomous transportation, Zoox, a leading autonomous vehicle company, has recently opened its first full-scale robotaxi production facility in Hayward, California. This 20,000 square meter plant, set to produce over 10,000 units per year when at full capacity, marks a significant milestone in Zoox's transition from development to commercial production[1][2][3][4].
The Hayward facility, Zoox's second production site in the Bay Area, complements its Fremont location, which is now dedicated to retrofitted test vehicles and sensor integration[1][3]. The new plant integrates engineering, hardware and software development, vehicle assembly, component storage, and final testing, enabling Zoox to scale operations efficiently across multiple U.S. urban markets[1][2][3].
Initial production and commercial deployment are focused on Las Vegas, with public commercial rides expected to begin before the end of 2025 or early 2026, followed by San Francisco later in 2025. Additional cities like Austin and Miami are planned to come online in the next few years[1][2][4].
Zoox's custom-built robotaxis are designed specifically for urban environments, boasting features like conference-style seating for four passengers, all-wheel drive, steerable axles for tight turning, a 133 kWh battery offering up to 16 hours of operation per charge, and multiple sensors including cameras, radar, and lidar[1][3]. The vehicles will be fully autonomous, with no pedals or steering wheel.
The new plant will rely on a hybrid workforce of humans and robots, where human workers perform much of the precision assembly work, and robots handle specific tasks such as adhesive application and material transport along the assembly line[2][3].
Notably, the seats in Zoox's robotaxis can be removed to convert them into commercial vehicles, and the company is preparing an autonomous taxi model for a 2025 launch.
Tesla, another pioneer in the autonomous vehicle space, will also be launching its autonomous robotaxis in Austin on June 12. Tesla's robotaxis, produced at the Hayward plant, will be fully electric with autonomous driving capabilities, capable of making turns in tight spaces thanks to all-wheel drive and steering axles. The initial fleet in Austin will consist of Model Y vehicles without a driver. The vehicles will have cameras and six LiDAR radars for navigation and safety. The maximum speed of Tesla's autonomous robotaxis is 120 km/h, but they are designed for urban environments and will not reach this speed under normal conditions[5].
In summary, Zoox’s Hayward facility started production in mid-2025 and is ramping towards full capacity with the goal of launching commercial robotaxi services in multiple U.S. cities starting late 2025 through the next few years[1][2][4]. This facility is a cornerstone for Zoox’s ambition to build and operate its own fleet of purpose-built autonomous vehicles, distinguishing it from competitors that retrofit existing cars[3]. The gradual expansion of these robotaxis' use is expected to revolutionise urban transportation in the coming years.
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/technology/zoox-opens-new-robotaxi-factory-bay-area-2023-03-28/ [2] https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/zoox-opens-robotaxi-factory-in-california-for-mass-production [3] https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/28/23633223/zoox-robotaxi-factory-opening-hayward-california-production-line [4] https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/28/zoox-opens-robotaxi-factory-in-california-to-produce-10000-vehicles-per-year.html [5] https://www.tesla.com/news/autonomous-robotaxis-coming-to-austin-on-june-12
- The newly opened Zoox production facility in Hayward, California, houses engineering, hardware and software development, vehicle assembly, component storage, and final testing, positioning Zoox for efficient scaling across urban markets.
- Zoox's custom-built robotaxis, designed for urban environments, incorporate unique features such as all-wheel drive, steerable axles, multiple sensors, and a 133 kWh battery offering up to 16 hours of operation per charge.
- In line with the transition from development to commercial production, Zoox's robotaxis will be fully autonomous, featuring no pedals or steering wheel.
- The focus of Zoox's initial commercial deployment is Las Vegas, with San Francisco, Austin, and Miami anticipated to follow in the coming years, as the company aims to revolutionize urban transportation with its fleet of purpose-built electric-vehicles.
