Zoox is expanding its U.S. testing ground, adding Phoenix and Dallas as new markets for its robotaxi program. Zoox 's expansion is another step as the Amazon -owned startup continues to scale its operations in major metropolitan areas.
In a landscape of growing autonomous robotaxi in the US, Zoox remains one of the biggest names in its field, competing with other major players like Tesla, Waymo and, most recently, Nuro.
See also: Waymo: Testing robotaxi service in 4 new cities
What sets Zoox apart is its purpose-built vehicle , which operates without pedals or a steering wheel . These unique electric vehicles have been on public roads in the Bay Area for years and are now taking people to Las Vegas Strip.
However, in other cities across the U.S., Zoox is using more traditional vehicles equipped with its full suite of proprietary sensors. In the past, Zoox has announced expansions that include trials in cities including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, and, most recently, Washington, D.C.
Zoox: Robotaxi expansion to Phoenix and Dallas
This morning, Zoox announced the addition of two more US cities – Phoenix, Arizona, and Dallas, Texas.
According to an announcement from Zoox, the robotaxi network is expanding testing in Texas with the addition of Dallas, as well as Arizona, starting in Phoenix. To support the expansion, Zoox said it is opening new robotaxi depots in both areas, as well as a new Fusion Center in Scottsdale, AZ.
See also: Tesla Robotaxi: What is the assessment 8 months later?
Zoox Fusion Centers are the hub for fleet operations, where remote guidance, mission control and passenger support teams provide real-time assistance. The new Scottsdale location will join existing Fusion Centers in the San Francisco Bay Area and Las Vegas.
Initially, residents in Dallas and Phoenix neighborhoods will begin seeing a small number of modified Zoox test vehicles rolling around. As is typical, the initial focus will be on manually mapping the new cities before any autonomous testing.
Even then, there will be a safety driver behind the wheel to supervise and intervene if necessary. After that, Zoox said it will begin deploying robotaxi designed specifically for this purpose in both Dallas and Phoenix. According to the company, Phoenix and Dallas are both fast-growing metropolitan areas with high demand for transportation services.
Expanding to these cities allows Zoox to test its service in expansive environments, differentiating this data from its tests in other dense metropolitan areas like San Francisco.
See also: Baidu partners with Uber and Lyft for robotaxi in London
These purchases allow Zoox to validate the robustness of its technology in diverse and demanding weather conditions. In Phoenix, the company has the opportunity to test the performance of its sensors and batteries against extreme heat and dust on high-speed roads. Dallas provides a valuable testing ground for the company to improve its AI in the face of diverse weather conditions and complex road networks.
Additionally, Zoox announced that by the end of 2025, it had traveled over 1 million miles (autonomously), transporting more than 300,000 passengers in cities like San Francisco and Las Vegas.
