104-year-old takes a ride in a Zoox robotaxi

At 104 years old, Lilabel Babcock has witnessed remarkable changes throughout her lifetime.

Born in Chanute, Kansas, Lilabel fondly remembers her youth and the family car. In those days, her family shared a single automobile. Her father, a minister, needed the vehicle for his duties, and her mother, a teacher, would drive it to her work.

Without owning a car herself, Lilabel relied on streetcars to attend university and get to her job. “The streetcar was really nice, very safe. I think it was 10 cents to go downtown and 10 cents to come back,” she recalls.

While she was growing up, the 1920s marked a period of rapid expansion in the American automotive industry and a boom in road construction. This era, considered the "golden age" of road building, saw the transition of many dirty, muddy, unpaved roads to the development of better infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of cars. By the 1930s, while many roads remained unpaved, the demand for improved roadways was on the rise. Automobiles were quickly becoming an integral part of American society and culture, unlocking a new type of transportation freedom in traveling long distances across the United States.

“I learned to drive a car when I was 25,” she said. “I had never driven a car in my life. Bill, my husband-to-be was in the army, stationed in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was working out of Ann Arbor to be with him.”

Eventually, Bill was sent to California in preparation for being deployed overseas.

“I was taking people to and from work [with the car] all the time while Bill was away. [He asked me to drive] the car to meet him in California. I had a friend with me from Ann Arbor to California,” she said. “It took us five days to make that trip. We had to hurry because we didn’t know how long the boys would stay before taking a ship to Japan.”

At the age of 99, Lilabel was still driving. She realized that she needed to have her license renewed if she wanted to continue driving herself and following her familiar routines. Much to her family’s surprise, she not only passed her test but also passed with a perfect score. 

“The truth of the matter is that at 100 [years old], you can’t drive anymore. I knew that, but I drove that whole year leading up to my birthday.” 

With the emergence of ride-hailing, we are now entering a new transportation era. But that doesn’t mean leaving behind that sense of freedom. If anything, it offers new freedoms in a new type of vehicle, like carriage seating designed for quality time and connection with one another. 

When asked whether she felt excited or nervous about taking her first robotaxi ride, Lilabel said that she was glad to go and not afraid. Her confidence, she said, stemmed from the trust she placed in her family. Her son-in-law, Dr. Mark Rosekind, former Chief Safety Innovation Officer at Zoox, and her grandson, Aaron Rosekind, Senior Manager, Firmware Applications, were there to accompany her.

“It’s about trusting the people who put everything together,” she said, nodding to her family. “I don’t know whether I can [figure it out] or not, but somebody else is going to figure it out with me.”

She also offered sage advice, conveying that people need to feel completely comfortable “seeing one of those vehicles going around.” 

She acknowledged that cars have become ‘quite expensive’ and appreciates the convenience of looking forward to having a vehicle "pick her up to go to the grocery store or on errands."

“Everything is changing so fast,” she remarked to Aaron. After the ride, Lilabel expressed her gratitude for the experience, giving her family a hug.

“It was amazing to share that with her,” said Aaron. “In fact, we had my mom getting her first ride at the same time. That was three generations at once in a robotaxi ride! I believe in the opportunity and future this technology will bring in our lives, and it was such an honor to finally share that.” 

“Grandma doesn't drive anymore, and basic mobility has become a serious challenge,” he added. “This future we're building has the opportunity to improve Grandma's life and the lives of everyone who can't drive.”