Zoox, Amazon’s robotaxi subsidiary, has opened a new manufacturing facility in California to build thousands of toaster-shaped self-driving vehicles, the company said on Wednesday. The opening of the 220,000 square foot facility in Hayward, Calif. paves the way for Zoox to eventually assemble more than 10,000 of its robotaxis each year, the company said. But it may take some time before Zoox runs the facility at capacity, as it has yet to even launch commercial operations. Zoox, which has been working on self-driving car technology since 2014, began offering rides in pod-like vehicles with no steering wheels or pedals to employees and select invitees in the Bay Area and Las Vegas in 2023. It also expanded its fleet of test vehicles—Toyota Highlander Hybrids rigged with radar and lidar sensors, and operated by safety drivers—into Austin and Miami last year. As Zoox gears up for the commercial launch of its robotaxi service, which it has said is slated for later this year, the company has had to contend with a few hiccups. In April, Zoox pulled 258 vehicles off the streets to update its software after its testing vehicles were involved in two accidents with motorcyclists.

Full report : Amazon-owned Zoox just opened a 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to build its robotaxi vehicles in California.