HAYWARD, California: In a significant step toward its commercial debut, Amazon-owned Zoox has unveiled its first factory dedicated to building robotaxis, setting the stage for a direct showdown with Waymo and Tesla in the autonomous vehicle space.

The facility in Hayward, California, was announced this week. It spans 220,000 square feet and is designed to produce over 10,000 units annually at full capacity. While initial production goals weren't shared, Zoox said the expansion aligns with growing demand ahead of its launch plans.

The company is already testing over 20 vehicles in several U.S. cities. It aims to roll out commercial rides in Las Vegas this year, followed by a broader rollout in San Francisco. It currently operates in the SoMa district and expects to begin onboarding public riders soon.

"This expansion, plus the anticipated demand once rides open up to the general public, and additional market entrances in the coming years, warrants this increase in robotaxi production," Zoox said in a statement.

Unlike rivals, Zoox operates purpose-built autonomous vehicles without steering wheels or pedals — boxy shuttles that stand out from traditional cars retrofitted with sensors. Tesla plans to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, starting with Model Y vehicles and later a two-seater "Cybercab." Waymo, meanwhile, has years of experience with driverless fleets and is expanding nationally.

Despite growing momentum, robotaxi developers face continued scrutiny over safety and regulation, with federal investigations and recalls following various crashes involving autonomous vehicles.