(NewsNation) — That boxy silver pod cruising the Las Vegas Strip isn't a futuristic toaster — it's Amazon-owned Zoox's new robotaxi.

The company began offering rides to the public, free of charge, on Wednesday.

Using the Zoox smartphone app, passengers can select several destinations around the Las Vegas Strip, with staff stationed at certain locations to help with pickups and dropoffs.

Zoox's robotaxi looks noticeably different from rivals like Waymo and Tesla, as the company opted for a true driverless vehicle. There are no manual controls, such as a steering wheel or pedals, and passengers sit facing each other.

"The idea for Zoox was never to make a car drive itself; it was about creating an entirely new mode of transportation," Jesse Levinson, co-founder and CTO of Zoox, said in a

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