Amazon acquired the startup for $1.2 billion in 2020, and shortly thereafter Zoox unveiled the VH6, a self-driving car without a steering wheel that can accommodate four passengers and reach a top speed of 75 mph on the highway.

Zoox reportedly manufactures the VH6 at its Kato plant in Fremont, California, and has already produced dozens of cars.

Typically, companies are required to apply for special exemptions from U.S. regulators to deploy self-driving cars without steering wheels and brake pedals. Zoox has chosen a different path, opting to self-certify with the NHTSA so that it is not subject to limited production or production cycles. However, the company has also taken on a greater responsibility for the safety of its vehicles.

Jesse Levinson, Zoox co-founder and chief technology officer, said, “We’ve really invested extra time and resources, which essentially puts us in control of our own destiny.” “Even in the early days of this technology, we were able to compete and make money with companies like Uber (UBER.US) and Lyft Inc (LYFT.US), and we were very competitive on cost.”

It is understood that several companies have recently announced the news about self-driving cabs. Baidu (BIDU.US) unveiled its sixth-generation production unmanned vehicle, Apollo RT6, with vehicles set up in two modes with/without steering wheels, to be piloted in China in 2023. General Motors (GM.US) and Ford (F.US) applied to U.S. auto safety regulators to deploy steering wheel-less self-driving cars, among others.

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It is reported that the self-driving cab has been demonstrated and applied within 10 square kilometers of Xinchuan Innovation and Technology Park in Chengdu High-tech Zone, radiating to commercial areas, residential areas, science and technology parks, and the stadium of the Universiade, etc. Eight self-driving cars will be put into service initially, with running hours from 9:00 to 17:00. It provides services for commuting and short-distance shuttle for users in the region.

Currently, the automotive industry is experiencing a new round of changes caused by new energy, intelligent network connection and other technologies. In March this year, Chengdu issued the first batch of road test vehicle license plates for these 12 test vehicles. In accordance with the Implementing Rules of Chengdu Intelligent Networked Vehicle Road Test and Demonstration Application Management Specification (for Trial Implementation) and related regulations, 12 intelligent networked vehicles (including 4 pure electric city buses and 8 pure electric cars) of Apollo Smart Information Technology (Chengdu) Co. Ltd. will be carried out in the Xinchuan Innovation Science and Technology Park in Chengdu High-tech Zone to demonstrate the application of free passenger and cargo services.

Chengdu is a national important high-tech industrial base, trade and logistics center and comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Chengdu City has made every effort to promote the development of intelligent network-connected vehicle industry. At present, Chengdu has been approved as a national pilot city for smart city infrastructure and intelligent network-connected vehicles, and is actively building and applying for the creation of a national-level Telematics pilot area. The transformation of intelligent road facilities has taken shape and has attracted companies such as Baidu and Shangtang to carry out road testing and demonstration applications of intelligent network-connected vehicles in Chengdu.

Next, Chengdu will take Chengdu High-tech Zone and Longquanyi District as the core, and speed up the promotion of pilot demonstration applications in designated intelligent transformation roads and areas for intelligent public transportation, self-driving cabs, and special unmanned operation vehicles, etc., and strive to improve the commuting efficiency of citizens’ travel under the premise of ensuring their travel safety, while actively exploring commercial operation services.

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