Prime Highlights
- Amazon-owned Zoox will begin testing its autonomous driving technology in Phoenix and Dallas as part of its plan to expand robotaxi services across the United States.
- The company will initially deploy modified Toyota Highlander SUVs with human safety drivers before introducing its purpose-built autonomous robotaxis.
Key Facts
- Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for $1.3 billion and has since expanded testing of its self-driving technology across multiple U.S. cities.
- Zoox has already served more than 300,000 riders through its robotaxi services in Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Background
Amazon’s autonomous vehicle unit Zoox will start testing its self-driving technology in Phoenix and Dallas, the company announced on Monday. The move marks another step in Zoox’s effort to expand its robotaxi services across the United States.
The company will begin with a small number of modified Toyota Highlander SUVs. Each vehicle will have a human safety driver behind the wheel while the system maps streets and collects data. After this phase, Zoox plans to introduce its purpose-built robotaxis, which have a compact, toaster-shaped design.
Zoox said the two cities will help the company test its technology in different and challenging conditions. Phoenix offers extreme heat, dusty environments and high-speed roads that can test the performance of sensors and batteries. Dallas, meanwhile, provides varied weather and complex road networks that can help improve the company’s artificial intelligence systems.
The expansion adds to Zoox’s growing presence in the United States. The company said it has already served more than 300,000 riders since launching its services in Las Vegas and San Francisco. Last year, Zoox began offering free rides in parts of San Francisco after opening its robotaxi service to the public in Las Vegas.
Zoox is also testing its autonomous technology in several other cities, including Seattle, Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.
Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for $1.3 billion and has steadily expanded testing since then. The company recently opened a 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the San Francisco Bay Area that aims to produce up to 10,000 vehicles a year when fully operational.
The expansion comes as Zoox competes with major players in the autonomous vehicle industry, including Waymo, Tesla and Chinese robotaxi developers.
Zoox also announced plans to open a new “fusion center” in Scottsdale, Arizona, which will support fleet operations, remote guidance and rider services.