Zoox plans for scalability with robotaxi serial production facility - The Robot Report

Zoox Inc., founded in 2014 and now an Amazon self-driving venture, has developed custom-built robotaxis designed without traditional driver controls to prioritize passenger comfort. To support scalable production of these unique autonomous vehicles, Zoox opened its own serial production facility in Hayward, California. Unlike traditional automakers, Zoox maintains full control over its manufacturing process, integrating engineering, software/hardware integration, assembly, component storage, shipping, and end-of-line testing within one facility. Senior director Michael Lemperle, with extensive automotive manufacturing experience, emphasizes Zoox’s focus on the entire ride experience, which drives their distinct approach to vehicle production. Zoox’s production line differs significantly from typical OEM assembly lines by powering up vehicles early in the process to run continuous diagnostics on every installed component. This rigorous integration testing ensures correct connections, firmware versions, and fault detection throughout assembly, contrasting with traditional automakers who perform limited electrical diagnostics late in production. While this approach increases assembly time—taking about 20