This is what it's like to ride Amazon's Zoox robotaxis as they launch in Las Vegas

Amazon is officially putting its Zoox robotaxis on the road in Las Vegas, marking the company’s first public rollout of its futuristic ride-hailing service.

These fully autonomous vehicles are unlike anything else in the robotaxi race: there’s no steering wheel, no pedals, and a completely symmetrical design with two rows of seats facing each other.

The goal goes beyond getting you from point A to B, as the company is trying to rethink what a car can be when you take the driver out of the equation.

CNBC recently took a ride in one, and the experience was equal parts smooth, surprising, and a glimpse into the future.

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Zoox robotaxis don’t look like traditional cars

Step inside a Zoox and you’ll immediately notice the difference.

Instead of a traditional dashboard and driver’s seat, the interior feels more like a lounge on wheels.

Passengers sit across from one another, making it a more social ride, or a more awkward one, depending on who you’re paired with.

Windows are oversized, meaning you lose the typical ‘windshield view’, but gain a panoramic side perspective of the Las Vegas Strip.

It’s less about watching the road and more about soaking in the city.

On the tech side, Zoox robotaxis are constantly scanning their environment in 360 degrees, tracking hundreds of objects at once.

Defensive driving is a key feature.

At one point during the demo, a car sped out of a garage, and the Zoox automatically swerved slightly to avoid it.

The vehicle also handled a right turn on red so smoothly that riders barely noticed.

Amazon is looking to expand to other US cities

Safety is also top of mind.

Each Zoox comes with crash-tested reinforced glass and an emergency pullover button that immediately connects passengers with live support.

The company admits the ride isn’t always buttery smooth, as there are still a few swerves and jerks compared to rivals like Waymo.

Amazon’s backing gives Zoox a long runway, though profitability is a major hurdle.

No robotaxi service in the world has cracked the code on making money yet, even though the Tesla Robotaxi app recently hit two million downloads on the first day of its launch.

Still, the strategy is clear: start small, expand steadily, and focus on creating a purpose-built vehicle rather than retrofitting an existing car.

For now, Zoox robotaxis are free to ride in a limited Las Vegas geofence, with San Francisco next on the list.

Expansion to Austin, Miami, LA, and Atlanta is already on the roadmap, meaning the company will be tackling rivals like Tesla and Waymo head-on.

While it may be years before anyone turns a profit, the future of city travel is looking less like Uber and a lot like Amazon convenience on wheels.

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