
Amazon's Zoox to scale up robotaxi production for US expansion, FT reports
Zoox's logo is seen in this illustration taken February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab
Companies
Amazon.com Inc
Follow
May 7 (Reuters) - Amazon's (AMZN.O)
, opens new tab self-driving start-up Zoox will scale up production next year as it accelerates plans for a commercial rollout of its fleet of robotaxis in the U.S., the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
The company will open a new site in California's Bay Area to expand its footprint beyond a current small production facility in Fremont, Zoox co-founder Jesse Levinson told the newspaper.
Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here.
Reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
Share X
Facebook
Linkedin
Email
Link
Purchase Licensing Rights
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Finextra
32 minutes ago
- Finextra
Retailers Accepting Crypto Payments – With Instant Settlement in Cash: By Shane Rodgers
Cryptocurrency payments are gaining interest in the retail world, from luxury watches to fast food. As consumers express interest in paying with digital assets, businesses see a means of gaining a larger customer base. With a new generation of crypto payment solutions now available, businesses can accept crypto seamlessly, converting it instantly to their local currency. The merchants never touch the crypto, so there is no need to worry about crypto volatility, wallets to manage, or compliance headaches. A Shift in Retail Payments Consumer desire to use crypto at checkout is growing fast. The numbers back it up: 65 million Americans now own crypto, and according to Capital One, 80% would like to use it for everyday purchases. These consumers may be shopping for luxury items, but they also want to pay for groceries, plane tickets, and even fast food with digital currency. What's more, crypto users typically spend twice as much as those using traditional cards. Retailers are responding. In the United States alone, over 6,000 merchants already accept Bitcoin payments, and a Deloitte survey reveals that 85% of retailers see crypto as a tool to engage new audiences. Early Adoption Across Sectors The pay by crypto option isn't just theoretical — businesses are already seeing the impact. PDX Beam has been piloting its payment gateway with dozens of merchants across diverse industries, from diamond sellers to luxury car dealerships. By offering crypto-based payment these businesses are accessing a new demographic of spenders. One international fast-food chain is launching a crypto payment pilot in ten Miami-Dade locations, part of its expansive U.S. presence of 6,800 outlets. These tests could soon bring crypto payments to the mainstream of fast-food transactions. Beyond individual retailers, major retail payment players behind the scenes are getting involved. A $7.5 billion financial institution has signed a deal to process crypto payments, while a private equity group is using PDX Beam to enable crypto transactions for its portfolio of retailers. Eliminating Crypto Exposure for Merchants For most merchants, the biggest worry is dealing with crypto's price swings and the operational headaches of managing digital assets. PDX Beam's modern crypto-to-cash gateway eliminates that concern entirely. When a customer pays in crypto, the system instantly converts it to local currency and deposits the funds directly into the merchant's account — usually within seconds. Retailers don't touch the crypto themselves, meaning there's no exposure to volatility and no need to maintain separate crypto accounts. Plus, because these payments settle on blockchain rails, they help reduce the risk of chargeback fraud, offering merchants an extra layer of security. Lower Fees and Instant Settlement Another major benefit is the fees associated with crypto payments. While traditional card payments come with fees that can reach 3-4% for standard transactions and up to 7% in high-risk sectors (including cannabis stores), crypto payments bypass these intermediaries, lowering transaction costs to less than half Visa/MC charges. Settlement speeds are another major advantage. Credit card transactions can take days to clear, but crypto payments through these new gateways settle in real time or the same day — helping retailers improve cash flow. Positioning for the Future The shift toward crypto payments isn't slowing down. Big banks like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs are launching crypto products, and the U.S. government is laying the groundwork for regulations that will support the growing digital asset economy. Worldpay forecasts that crypto spending worldwide will more than double by 2030, from $16 billion to $38 billion. For retailers, the takeaway is clear: crypto payments aren't a passing trend. Consumers want to use it, and with modern gateways eliminating risk and complexity, merchants can meet this demand safely and efficiently. By enabling crypto transactions without ever directly handling digital assets, retailers can meet the needs of this new generation of shoppers who are living increasingly digital-first lives.


The Independent
40 minutes ago
- The Independent
CVS under investigation for sending text messages to customers lobbying against proposed bill
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has launched an investigation into CVS, probing whether or not the company has been improperly using its customers' personal information to send text messages lobbying against a state law. She said she also plans to issue the company a cease-and-desist letter to halt the texts, according to ABC News. Lawmakers debating the failed bill at the center of the controversy shared images of CVS's texts during a hearing on Wednesday. 'Last minute legislation in Louisiana threatens to close your CVS Pharmacy — your medication cost may go up and your pharmacist may lose their job,' one text said, according to the Associated Press. The bill would have prohibited companies from owning both pharmacy benefit managers and drug stores. CVS owns retail pharmacies as well as CVS Caremark, which is one of the nation's top three pharmacy benefit managers, meaning the law would have directly affected its business. CVS Caremark and other pharmacy managers essentially act as middlemen by purchasing prescription drugs from manufacturers and determining the terms for how those drugs are distributed to customers. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission issued a report saying that the managers "may be profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies." In Louisiana, CVS's text messages included links to a draft letter asking lawmakers to reject the legislation. 'The proposed legislation would take away my and other Louisiana patients' ability to get our medications shipped right to our homes,' the letter read. 'They would also ban the pharmacies that serve patients suffering from complex diseases requiring specialty pharmacy care to manage their life-threatening conditions like organ transplants or cancer. These vulnerable patients cannot afford any disruption to their care – the consequences would be dire.' State Representative Dixon McMakin said CVS was "lying" and using "scare tactics" to oppose the legislation. CVS reportedly sent "large numbers" of texts to state employees and their families to lobby against the legislation, according to Murrill in her statement. Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for CVS, told ABC News that the texts were sent out in response to a last-minute amendment to the bill on Wednesday without holding a public hearing about the change. 'We believe we have a responsibility to inform our customers of misguided legislation that seeks to shutter their trusted pharmacy, and we acted accordingly,' Thibault said in an email to the broadcaster. 'Our communication with our customers, patients and members of our community is consistent with law.' The bill failed to pass the state Senate, which decided not to take it up for the 2025 session.


Top Gear
an hour ago
- Top Gear
This Integra Type S racer is going for a Pikes Peak record
This Integra Type S racer is going for a Pikes Peak record With 355bhp and a massive rear wing pushing down on it, the 'DE5' means business Skip 9 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 9 Honda (well, Acura) wants to reset the front-wheel drive record up the Pikes Peak Hillclimb, and it's aiming to do it with this Integra Type S racer. Dubbed the 'DE5' and based on the HRC prototype, it uses an upgraded version of the same 'K20C8' turbocharged four-pot, now punching out a healthier 355bhp. Advertisement - Page continues below The souped-up Integra also gets a six-speed sequential transmission, a stiffer suspension setup and stonking great brakes. All in a bid to help this humble five-door hatch get up a really big mountain… really rather quickly. Beneath the bulged-up body, which gets extra bonnet ducts for cooling and a whole heap of gaping bumpers and skirts, excess weight has been freed up by removing some of the soundproofing and underbody coating. Intimidating rear wing back there too. The DE5 will be entered into the 'Time Attack 1' class, driven by IndyCar and IMSA pro Katherine Legge. Last year, she lost out on the FWD record by just three seconds, set back in 2018 by a modified Acura TLX. Given it was her first ever attempt at The Race to the Clouds, optimism will be brewing strongly this time out. Advertisement - Page continues below Looking for more from the USA? READ THE LATEST USA NEWS Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*