Zoox, the self-driving vehicle unit owned by Amazon, announced that it will begin operating its distinctive, toaster-shaped robotaxis in limited areas of Austin, Texas, and Miami, Florida later this year. The rollout will be conducted as a testing program, with the vehicles operating without steering wheels or pedals.
Company officials said the initial phase of operations in both cities will be restricted to Zoox employees and their family members and friends. After that internal testing window, Zoox plans to activate its Explorer program, which will allow members of the public to join a waitlist for rides in the vehicles.
Zoox has prior experience offering free, driverless rides; last year it provided such services around the Las Vegas Strip and in select neighborhoods of San Francisco. The company reported that, as of late March, it had served 350,000 riders and that roughly 500,000 people were on its waitlist.
Testing footprint and fleet plans
In addition to the new Austin and Miami pilots, Zoox is enlarging its operational areas in San Francisco and Las Vegas. The company is actively testing autonomous technology in 10 U.S. cities. CEO Aicha Evans said in an interview that the robotaxis will soon operate in Atlanta and Los Angeles as well, noting that Zoox’s modified Toyota Highlanders have been collecting data in those markets since last year.
Zoox projects that it will have 100 robotaxis on public roads once it scales services in Las Vegas and San Francisco and begins public testing in Austin and Miami.
Regulatory status and commercial plans
Before Zoox can begin commercial operations at larger scale, it is waiting on a decision from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company has requested approval to operate up to 2,500 self-driving vehicles on public roads for commercial purposes. The agency opened a 30-day comment period on the proposal beginning March 11; it will publish its decision after that comment period.
Zoox has not yet launched a paid service. CEO Aicha Evans said the company is prepared to start charging fares once it secures the necessary regulatory approvals. Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020.