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Zoox robotaxi trips could be more expensive than many expected.
Company suggested they’ll cost as much as Comfort rides at Uber and Lyft.
Paid trips begin next week in Las Vegas, but will likely expand to other cities.
Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Amazon-owned Zoox would be given a “ temporary exemption ,” which would allow the company to commercially deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually without traditional controls. This paved the way for the company to start charging for rides in their futuristic pod that lacks a steering wheel and pedals.
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Now, Reuters is reporting Zoox will start charging riders in Las Vegas on August 10. More interestingly, the publication said pricing will be “similar to the ‘comfort’ tier offered by other ride-hailing companies.”
More: Zoox Unveils Its Production-Intent Robotaxi, Arrives Later This Year
This means that even without a driver, the robotaxi could end up costing more than an Uber or Lyft. That sounds counterintuitive as one of the biggest selling points was eliminating human drivers to lower costs.
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While the exact price remains to be seen, Reuters noted the comfort tier “typically offers newer, roomier vehicles at fares about 20%-40% higher than standard ride-hailing services.”
As an example, an UberX from my house to Comerica Park in Detroit would cost around $52, while a newer Comfort class vehicle would be $81. At Lyft, it would be $87 for a Standard model and $96 for an Extra Comfort vehicle.
Zoox told the publication robotaxi pricing factors in a base fare as well as a “time and distance model calculated using the best route.” The company added they’ll factor in and disclose destination-specific fees upfront and won’t charge riders more if the robotaxi takes a longer route than originally planned.
While a number of questions remain, it will be interesting to see how popular Zoox robotaxis are now that the company will charge riders. There will certainly be a bit of a novelty factor, but that will eventually wear off and the premium pricing could limit the appeal.
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