10,000 Driverless Cars—WHAT Could Go Wrong?!
Amazon’s self-driving unit Zoox has launched a 220,000-square-foot factory in Hayward, California, aiming to produce up to 10,000 custom robotaxis per year by 2027—intensifying the race against rivals like Waymo and Tesla in the expanding U.S. robotaxi market.
At a Glance
Zoox opened a Hayward robotaxi factory designed to produce 10,000 vehicles annually by 2027
The plant transforms a former bus facility and uses a 21-station assembly line
Zoox’s pod-shaped cars are custom-built and lack steering wheels
Commercial launches are slated for Las Vegas (late 2025), followed by San Francisco, Miami, and Atlanta
The expansion comes amid heightened scrutiny of the AV industry over safety and regulation
Factory Purpose and Production Ramp
Zoox’s Hayward factory represents a major step from testing to scaled production. Initially producing one vehicle per day, the company expects to hit three per hour by 2026, as reported by AP News. The 220,000-square-foot facility features a 21-station line capable of full assembly, wiring, calibration, and software installation.
Watch the overview: Zoox unveils its robotaxi plant
Pod‑Cars vs. Retrofitted Vehicles
Unlike Waymo and Tesla, Zoox designs its robotaxis from the ground up. Its autonomous pod has no steering wheel or driver seat and features bi-directional driving. Reuters notes that Zoox’s custom design allows for purpose-built safety features and passenger-first cabin layouts, setting it apart from rivals that retrofit existing car platforms.
CEO Aicha Evans and CTO Jesse Levinson emphasized their focus on redundant safety systems and transparency, acknowledging public concern over AV mishaps reported industry-wide.
Market Impact and Industry Risks
Zoox’s move scales up competition with Waymo, which has already logged more than 10 million paid rides across Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, according to The Financial Times. Meanwhile, Tesla’s “Cybercab” robotaxi prototype is being developed for mass deployment in Austin.
Yet AV players face mounting challenges. Federal agencies are probing several incidents involving self-driving cars, and Zoox’s leadership acknowledges that public patience is running thin, as FT reports.
Zoox’s massive new plant underscores the accelerating pace of the AV revolution—but as the industry ramps up, manufacturers face a dual mandate: deliver reliable vehicles at scale while regaining public trust in autonomous mobility. The race is on, and the stakes—for cities and consumers—are rising fast.