The Robotaxi Era Begins: Zoox Goes Paid, Moove Raises Big, and Ford Bets on a $28K EV From Amazon's commercial AV milestone to a $2.1 billion infrastructure play, mobility's future is being built right now. Zoox Flips the Switch: Commercial Robotaxis Are Here After nearly 1 million free rides across Las Vegas, San Francisco, Austin, and Miami, Zoox is finally ready to charge for the ride. Starting August 10, Amazon's autonomous vehicle unit will begin collecting fares in Las Vegas, marking the official launch of its commercial operations. The key that unlocked this milestone? A first-of-its-kind commercial exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), granted on July 30. Because Zoox's custom-built robotaxis lack a steering wheel and pedals, the traditional controls required under federal law, the company needed special permission to operate commercially. The two-year exemption allows Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually under enhanced federal oversight. But this isn't just a win for Zoox. The exemption sets a precedent for any autonomous vehicle developer building purpose-built robotaxis without traditional controls. Tesla's two-seater Cybercab, for instance, stands to benefit directly from this regulatory pathway. For now, Zoox remains free in San Francisco and Austin, where the company is still working through California's permitting process. But Las Vegas is the beachhead and the meter is running. Moove's $250 Million Bet on the Robotaxi Backbone Speaking of commercialization, someone has to manage all these robotaxis. Enter Moove, the Dubai-based mobility company that just raised $250 million in a Series C round** at a **$2.1 billion valuation. The round was led by Mubadala Investment Company, with co-leads Woven Capital (Toyota's growth fund) and Ion Pacific. Moove, which started as an African fintech company providing vehicle financing for ride-hail drivers, has evolved into a mega-fleet operator with 42,000 vehicles across