Zoox begins mapping Dallas and Phoenix as part of broader rollout of autonomous vehicle services across U.S. cities.
Dallas: Zoox is using Toyota Highlander SUVs to map streets in Dallas and Phoenix. These vehicles help the company’s software understand the layout of the cities before testing self-driving cars. This is called “getting the lay of the land.”
Mapping helps Zoox prepare for real testing. The company will later use special robotaxis that do not have steering wheels or pedals. These are built just for robotaxi service.
Zoox is now in 10 U.S. cities including Atlanta, Austin, and San Francisco. The company is owned by Amazon and has driven over a million miles in Las Vegas and San Francisco. It has given rides to more than 300,000 people through a free test program.
The company needs special permission to use its purpose-built vehicles. The Department of Transportation gave some approval but more is needed for commercial use. Zoox also needs permission from local agencies like California’s Public Utilities Commission.
Arizona is good for testing because of flat roads and warm weather. This is Zoox’s first time in Arizona. The state has been popular for testing robotaxis since regulations are friendly. Phoenix is where Waymo first started its robotaxi service in 2020.
Zoox is opening new facilities in both Dallas and Phoenix. This includes depots for storing vehicles and a command center in Scottsdale, Arizona. The company says these locations will create hundreds of jobs. They call their command centers “fusion centers” where teams can help cars with problems and support passengers.