This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
On June 27, 2020, Amazon signed a deal worth $1.2 billion to acquire Zoox, an autonomous driving startup that aims to build vehicles from scratch.
Under the agreement, Zoox will continue to operate independently, with CEO Aicha Evans and CTO Jesse Levinson maintaining their leadership roles.
‘We have made great strides with our purpose-built approach to safe, autonomous mobility, and our exceptionally talented team working every day to realize that vision. We now have an even greater opportunity to realize a fully autonomous future,’ says Zoox CEO Aicha Evans.
Amazon's acquisition of Zoox is expected to accelerate the startup's path to delivering safe, clean, and enjoyable transportation to the world.
Amazon's investment in Zoox is part of its growing interest in autonomous vehicles, which also includes investments in Aurora and Embark, a self-driving truck company.
The acquisition could also pave the way for Amazon to explore robot delivery services, using Zoox's technology to power its six-wheeled robot, ‘Scout.'
Additionally, if Zoox succeeds in its pursuits in robotaxis, Amazon could venture into the transport vertical, competing with taxi companies like Uber.
