Machine Nation News Team
July 2, 2025 at 10:00:22 AM
Zoox, Amazon’s Robotaxi Subsidiary, Has Opened A New Manufacturing Facility In California To Build Thousands Of Toaster-Shaped Self-Driving Vehicles, The Company Said
Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, opened a 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Hayward, California, on June 18, 2025, to produce its purpose-built, toaster-shaped robotaxis. The facility, a former Gillig bus plant, is designed to assemble over 10,000 bidirectional, electric robotaxis annually at full capacity, featuring a 21-station assembly line with human technicians and robots for tasks like glass adhesive application. Currently producing one robotaxi per day, Zoox aims to scale to three per hour by 2026, supporting commercial launches in Las Vegas and San Francisco later in 2025, with plans for Austin and Miami. The project creates 300 jobs, boosting Hayward’s 5,000-strong manufacturing workforce, and aligns with tariff-driven reshoring under President Trump’s 25% steel tariffs, targeting a $5 billion robotaxi market. CEO Aicha Evans emphasized the facility’s role in “redefining urban mobility” with vehicles lacking steering wheels or pedals, self-certified to meet federal safety standards.
For the precision machining industry, Zoox’s facility highlights the critical role of tool runout in manufacturing robotaxi components. Parts like sensor housings require CNC milling with minimal tool runout, typically under 0.0002 inches, to achieve tolerances within ±0.0005 inches and surface roughness as low as Ra 4 µin for lightweight alloys. 5-axis milling machines, optimized for tool runout to ensure cutting accuracy, support automated production with real-time quality control. The project drives demand for local machine shops to supply precision tooling, adopting Industry 4.0 technologies like AI-driven milling and additive manufacturing. As part of a $50 billion precision manufacturing market, this initiative creates opportunities for suppliers in California, where manufacturing jobs grew 2% since 2022, strengthening autonomous vehicle supply chains.
Source:
Social Media Buzz (powered by X):
X is electrified over Zoox’s Hayward facility opening, with posts on July 7–10, 2025, dubbing it a “futuristic leap for driverless tech.” Users lauded the 300 jobs, with one proclaiming, “Hayward’s crafting the future of travel!” while another connected it to “America’s autonomous edge.” Some debated the safety of no-steering-wheel designs, referencing recent Zoox recalls. The X pulse is vibrant with enthusiasm for innovation but tempered by calls for rigorous safety testing.
What is the Tool Runout?
This is one of many key terms of our broad Machine Nation Essential Modern Precision Industries Guidebook (MPIG). Click here to get a copy straight to your inbox.
Tool Runout - The deviation of a CNC milling tool from its intended cutting path, measured in inches, critical for maintaining precision and accuracy in component production.
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Related Tags:
#ZooxRobotaxi #HaywardCA #ToolRunout #PrecisionMachining #AutonomousVehicles #Reshoring