Zheng Gao leaves Tesla to join Amazon's controversial Zoox robotaxi unit

In 2024, Zheng Gao transitioned from his role at Tesla to Amazon's robotaxi unit, Zoox. He had spent eight years at Tesla, where he held the position of Director of Engineering for Autopilot Hardware and played a vital role in developing Tesla's autopilot technology. Before his time at Tesla, he worked for Apple for nine years, focusing on product design in connectors and input devices. This move occurred against a backdrop of fierce competition in the autonomous vehicle market, where Zoox is under pressure to develop and launch a commercial robotaxi service by 2025. Zoox, founded in 2014 and acquired by Amazon in 2020, has been at the forefront of the emerging robotaxi industry. The company plans to introduce a unique vehicle without pedals or a steering wheel, specifically designed for passenger use. Recently, co-founder Jesse Levinson criticized Tesla's self-driving technology, arguing that it lacks reliability and True autonomous capabilities, which highlights a tech gap between their approaches to driver assistance and fully autonomous systems. This ongoing rivalry illustrates the larger narrative of competition within the autonomous vehicle sector, where companies are racing to establish dominance. As Zoox prepares for its upcoming launch, Gao's extensive experience and proficiency in hardware engineering are seen as critical assets. His innovative background, evidenced by over 100 U.S. patents, underscores his capability to lead Zoox's hardware engineering team effectively. The financial backing from Amazon provides Zoox with necessary resources and support to potentially disrupt the ride-hailing industry, aiming to begin operations in significant urban locales. Tesla, in turn, is also gearing up for a robotaxi initiative, projecting to offer a ride-hailing service in California and Texas, all contingent on regulatory approvals. Gao's appointment at Zoox marks a strategic move, given the competitive landscape and Zoox's ambition to challenge Tesla's claims and technology in the autonomous driving domain. As the deadline for Zoox's commercial launch approaches, the pressure to achieve technological milestones increases, highlighting the significant stakes involved in the development of autonomous transportation solutions. With leaders of both Tesla and Zoox making strong claims regarding their technologies, the coming months will be crucial for proving whose vision for the future of autonomous driving prevails.