With Cruise and Waymo already operating extensive robotaxi fleets in San Francisco, it can be easy to forget there's a third self-driving company with plans to launch in the city.
Amazon-owned Zoox took a "big step" toward that goal over the weekend, according to CEO Aicha Evans.
A Zoox robotaxi carried dozens of employees on multiple trips via public roads linking two of the company's offices in Foster City, Calif., on Saturday. The vehicle reached speeds of 35 mph on its two-mile, round-trip route.
Last week, the California Department of Motor Vehicles granted Zoox a permit to deploy its purpose-built robotaxi on the public roads along the route. The specially designed robotaxi does not contain traditional controls like a steering wheel or brake pedal. It's not meant for human drivers.
Evans hailed the moment as a major milestone for the company, founded in 2014.
"Putting the vehicle on an open public road, and validating our approach to …