Our carriage seating is the first thing you notice when you step inside a Zoox. All four seats face each other, which changes the whole dynamic. This isn’t a car. It’s more like your lounge. A place designed for quality time, not just the time between here and there.

We tested traditional forward-facing rows, swivel seats, and individual seats. But we kept coming back to four-person carriage seating because it instantly set the tone for the whole Zoox experience.

various people walking into a zoox vehicle

Let's get talking

The idea for carriage seating goes back to the very early days of Zoox. There’s even a 2014 photograph with co-founders Jesse Levinson and Tim Kentley-Klay, industrial design lead Nahuel Battaglia, and an early employee testing it out with outdoor furniture.

zoox early concept for rider carriage seating

Facing each other naturally feels more social and inclusive. If you’re with friends and family, the conversation flows. And without a driver, there’s no more calling, “Shotgun!”

Two rows of seats immediately creates a sense of inequality—who gets the prime, spacious front seats and who is crammed into the back? Plus, riders are physically closed off from each other, which is a recipe for strained necks, stilted conversation, or both.

"To us, a better ride meant creating an environment similar to a lounge where social connections stick and everyday activities aren't interrupted. It had to be face-to-face."

Chris Stoffel, Director of Studio Engineering

Let's get comfortable

Lounges aren’t just about conversation. We set out to create a roomy space to chat, work, or simply relax.

The seats curve around riders in a broad U, with high sides that create a cocoon. And the materials draw more on the world of high-end furniture than cars: a careful blend of knits, leathers, and hard-wearing vinyl that means everything is soft to the touch, yet durable. 

The carriage layout also allows for a wide central aisle, despite the small footprint of our vehicle. You don’t have to squeeze past your fellow riders to get in or out. With Zoox, there’s nothing in your way.

two people dancing and holding peace signs in a zoox robotaxi

Safety first, second, and always

A new kind of vehicle interior also allows for new standards of safety. Starting from scratch gave us an opportunity to protect riders in innovative ways. And create an equal experience for each passenger. In our carriage seating, there are four quadrants of space with the exact same comfort, features, and level of safety. 

Take our airbag system. Our unique horseshoe-shaped curtain airbag design deploys between riders to keep everyone separate and protected. There are also front, rear, side head, and side seat airbags for every person. Each airbag is connected to a control unit that uses speed, direction, and the number of riders to determine how they’ll be activated.

Even our seat belts go the extra mile, with sensors that make sure everyone is safely buckled in. Only then will your ride begin.

Simply Zoox

At Zoox, we do things a little differently when we know they can make a big difference. Carriage seating may seem unusual, but its simplicity, symmetry, comfort, and sense of equality capture our vision of how transportation should be.

Inside a Zoox, everyone has designated quadrants. This makes the ride more enjoyable, but it's also about equality. No one is prioritized and no one has to fight over where to sit. Because there's no bad seat in the house."

Chris Stoffel, Director of Studio Engineering

Last updated on Mar 14, 2024

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