Zoox at a glance
As of- [1] Latest valuation: TechCrunch, July 17, 2018
- [2] Equity raised: Sum of the 1 sourced equity round in the funding history below (debt, tender offers and rumored rounds excluded), July 17, 2018
- [3] Lead investors: TechCrunch, July 17, 2018
- [4] Founded: Wikidata (retrieved September 16, 2026)
- [5] Headquarters: Wikidata (retrieved September 16, 2026)
What Zoox does
Zoox is an Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company that builds a custom robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, TechCrunch reported in September 2026.[1],[2] The company spent more than a decade developing its self-driving system and vehicle, and says its robotaxi is all-electric.[1],[3] Zoox was founded in 2014 by Tim Kentley-Klay and Jesse Levinson, and opened its headquarters in Foster City, California in 2018.[4],[5],[3] Zoox says it acquired Strio.AI and opened a Boston office.[3]
Business model and customers
On July 30, 2026, NHTSA gave Zoox a temporary exemption that allows it to charge customers for rides in its custom-built robotaxi, TechCrunch reported.[2] The commercial exemption lasts two years and allows Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles per year, according to TechCrunch.[1] Zoox started charging for robotaxi rides on August 10, 2026, and said it would begin testing in San Diego and Houston.[1] In September 2026 Zoox began picking up and dropping off riders at both Las Vegas airport terminals near baggage claim.[1]
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Company Snapshot
Zoox is a robotics company, based in Foster City, California, USA, founded 2014.
Recent changes
- Jul 18, 2026Jul 18, 2026Amazon's Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After One Drove Into Active Fire Scene Pulse story
- Jun 26, 2020Jun 26, 2020Acquired for $1.2B (reported) TechCrunch
- 20202020First reported total funding: ~$990M pre-acquisition; acquired by Amazon for ~$1.3B (2020)Estimated Value Add Pulse enrichment
- Jul 17, 2018Jul 17, 2018Raised $500M at a $3.2B valuation TechCrunch
- Jul 17, 2018Jul 17, 2018First reported valuation: $3.2B TechCrunch
Earlier changes (1)
- Jul 17, 2018Jul 17, 2018New investor: Grok Ventures TechCrunch
Funding history
1 equity event · newest first · sources dated per row| Date | Round | Amount | Valuation | Lead investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2018 | Funding round | $500M | $3.2Bpost-money | Grok Venturesunverified | TechCrunch |
Equity only. “Equity raised” above sums the rounds with a dated, linked source; rumored rounds, tender offers and secondary sales are listed but not counted, and debt financing is listed separately.
Debt, IPO & other events
not counted in equity raised| Date | Event | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2020 | acquisition | $1.2B (reported) | — | TechCrunch |
How Zoox has been funded
In July 2018 Zoox closed a $500 million raise at a $3.2 billion post-money valuation, led by Mike Cannon-Brookes of Grok Ventures, as reported by TechCrunch citing Bloomberg Businessweek.[4] Zoox was valued at $2.7 billion before the 2018 round, the company confirmed to TechCrunch, and the round brought its total funding to $800 million.[4] On June 26, 2020, Amazon announced it would acquire Zoox, which had raised nearly $1 billion in funding; the Financial Times reported the deal was worth $1.2 billion.[5] Under Amazon, Zoox continues as a standalone business, with CEO Aicha Evans and co-founder Jesse Levinson staying on after the 2020 deal.[5]
Investors
Latest Pulse
- Oct 4, 2026California Cracks Down On Robotaxi ChaosCalifornia's new SB 1246 forces Waymo, Tesla and Zoox to provide local incident response when robotaxis block traffic or emergency responders, starting July 2028.→
- Sep 17, 2026Zoox's 100-Robotaxi Cap In Nevada Is About To ExpireThe Nevada permit capping Amazon-owned Zoox at 100 robotaxis expires September 25, clearing the way for gradual fleet expansion in Las Vegas just as Waymo, Tesla and Uber all deepen their own driverless presence there.→
- Sep 6, 2026Tesla's Cybercab Hits the Road, and a SnagTesla began carrying paying riders in its wheel-free Cybercab days after a federal safety audit opened, Elon Musk skipped the launch, and rivals Waymo and Zoox used the same week to expand their own robotaxi footprints.→
- Sep 1, 2026Waymo and Zoox Both Just Expanded the Robotaxi MapWaymo and Amazon's Zoox both expanded into new US cities this week, intensifying a robotaxi race defined by Waymo's scale advantage and Zoox's still-supervised test rollout.→
- Aug 10, 2026Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides TodayZoox began charging for robotaxi rides in Las Vegas on August 10 under the first NHTSA exemption ever granted for a steering-wheel-free vehicle, and named Miami and Austin as its next early-rider cities.→
- Aug 5, 2026Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides Aug. 10Amazon's Zoox will begin charging fares for its steering-wheel-free robotaxi in Las Vegas on August 10, its first commercial market after nearly a year of free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco.→
- Aug 5, 2026Uber CEO Dismisses Reports of a Waymo SplitDara Khosrowshahi pushed back on reports that Uber and Waymo are heading for a breakup, on the same day Uber's stock fell on soft forward guidance and Zoox announced paid robotaxi rides in Las Vegas.→
- Aug 5, 2026Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides in Las VegasAmazon-owned Zoox will begin charging fares for its steering-wheel-free robotaxis in Las Vegas on August 10, its first commercial market after NHTSA cleared it to operate up to 2,500 driverless vehicles without human controls.→
- Jul 31, 2026Zoox Wins First US OK for Steering-Wheel-Free RobotaxisAmazon's Zoox became the first company allowed to run paid rides in a commercial robotaxi built with no steering wheel, pedals or driver's seat, after NHTSA granted a first-of-its-kind federal safety exemption.→
- Jul 18, 2026Amazon's Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After One Drove Into Active Fire SceneZoox voluntarily recalled software in 105 robotaxis after an unoccupied vehicle drove into heavy smoke at an uncordoned emergency fire scene in Las Vegas, days after federal regulators demanded autonomous-vehicle makers fix first-responder interference by the.→
Coverage Timeline
newest first- Oct 4, 2026REGULATIONCalifornia Cracks Down On Robotaxi Chaos→
- Sep 17, 2026BIG TECHZoox's 100-Robotaxi Cap In Nevada Is About To Expire→
- Sep 6, 2026BIG TECHTesla's Cybercab Hits the Road, and a Snag→
- Sep 1, 2026BIG TECHWaymo and Zoox Both Just Expanded the Robotaxi Map→
- Aug 10, 2026BIG TECHZoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides Today→
- Aug 5, 2026AIZoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides Aug. 10→
- Aug 5, 2026IPOUber CEO Dismisses Reports of a Waymo Split→
- Aug 5, 2026BIG TECHZoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides in Las Vegas→
- Jul 31, 2026REGULATIONZoox Wins First US OK for Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxis→
- Jul 18, 2026AIAmazon's Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After One Drove Into Active Fire Scene105 vehicles recalled→
All Coverage
REGULATION
California Cracks Down On Robotaxi Chaos
California's new SB 1246 forces Waymo, Tesla and Zoox to provide local incident response when robotaxis block traffic or emergency responders, starting July 2028.
DEEP DIVE
Zoox's 100-Robotaxi Cap In Nevada Is About To Expire
BIG TECH
Zoox's 100-Robotaxi Cap In Nevada Is About To Expire
The Nevada permit capping Amazon-owned Zoox at 100 robotaxis expires September 25, clearing the way for gradual fleet expansion in Las Vegas just as Waymo, Tesla and Uber all deepen their own driverless presence there.
DEEP DIVE
Tesla's Cybercab Hits the Road, and a Snag
BIG TECH
Tesla's Cybercab Hits the Road, and a Snag
Tesla began carrying paying riders in its wheel-free Cybercab days after a federal safety audit opened, Elon Musk skipped the launch, and rivals Waymo and Zoox used the same week to expand their own robotaxi footprints.
FOLLOW-UP
Waymo and Zoox Both Just Expanded the Robotaxi Map
BIG TECH
Waymo and Zoox Both Just Expanded the Robotaxi Map
Waymo and Amazon's Zoox both expanded into new US cities this week, intensifying a robotaxi race defined by Waymo's scale advantage and Zoox's still-supervised test rollout.
DEEP DIVE
Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides Today
BIG TECH
Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides Today
Zoox began charging for robotaxi rides in Las Vegas on August 10 under the first NHTSA exemption ever granted for a steering-wheel-free vehicle, and named Miami and Austin as its next early-rider cities.
DEEP DIVE
Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides Aug. 10
AI
Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides Aug. 10
Amazon's Zoox will begin charging fares for its steering-wheel-free robotaxi in Las Vegas on August 10, its first commercial market after nearly a year of free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Uber CEO Dismisses Reports of a Waymo Split
IPO
Uber CEO Dismisses Reports of a Waymo Split
Dara Khosrowshahi pushed back on reports that Uber and Waymo are heading for a breakup, on the same day Uber's stock fell on soft forward guidance and Zoox announced paid robotaxi rides in Las Vegas.
Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides in Las Vegas
BIG TECH
Zoox Starts Charging for Robotaxi Rides in Las Vegas
Amazon-owned Zoox will begin charging fares for its steering-wheel-free robotaxis in Las Vegas on August 10, its first commercial market after NHTSA cleared it to operate up to 2,500 driverless vehicles without human controls.
Zoox Wins First US OK for Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxis
REGULATION
Zoox Wins First US OK for Steering-Wheel-Free Robotaxis
Amazon's Zoox became the first company allowed to run paid rides in a commercial robotaxi built with no steering wheel, pedals or driver's seat, after NHTSA granted a first-of-its-kind federal safety exemption.
Amazon's Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After One Drove Into Active Fire Scene
AI105 vehicles recalled
Amazon's Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After One Drove Into Active Fire Scene
Zoox voluntarily recalled software in 105 robotaxis after an unoccupied vehicle drove into heavy smoke at an uncordoned emergency fire scene in Las Vegas, days after federal regulators demanded autonomous-vehicle makers fix first-responder interference by the.
Value Add Research
Related Companies
Shared investors
Zoox FAQ
Who owns Zoox?
Amazon owns Zoox; it announced the acquisition on June 26, 2020, in a deal the Financial Times reported was worth $1.2 billion.[5] Zoox operates as a standalone business within Amazon, according to Amazon's 2020 announcement.[5]
How much did Zoox raise before Amazon bought it?
Zoox raised nearly $1 billion in funding before Amazon agreed to acquire it in June 2020, TechCrunch reported.[5]
Who founded Zoox?
Zoox was founded by Tim Kentley-Klay and Jesse Levinson, and Aicha Evans is the CEO.[4],[2]
What does Zoox do?
Zoox builds and operates an all-electric, custom-built robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, and has charged for rides since August 10, 2026.[1],[3]
What is Zoox's valuation?
Zoox was last valued at $3.2B in its July 2018 funding round, according to TechCrunch (July 17, 2018).
Who invested in Zoox?
Lead investors in Zoox's sourced funding rounds include Grok Ventures. Per round: its July 2018 funding round was led by Grok Ventures.
When was Zoox founded and where is it based?
Zoox was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Foster City, California, USA, according to Wikidata.
References
researched 2026-10-19Sources & methodologyshow
Where these figures come from
- TechCrunchmajor outlet2 facts
- TechCrunchmajor outlet1 fact
- Value Add Pulse researchValue Add VC data1 fact
Figures are labelled Reported (a source states it), Estimated, Derived (computed from other facts) or Rumored (in talks / unconfirmed). Rumors never replace a confirmed figure. Each figure keeps its own as-of date; history is preserved rather than overwritten.