Zoox begins mapping Dallas and Phoenix for its robotic vehicle

Zoox is now mapping the streets of Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, as a prelude to testing its self-driving vehicles in the two Sun Belt cities.

The company said Monday it has sent a small number of Toyota Highlander SUVs to each city, where workers will drive them to help Zoox’s autonomous program get off the ground. Zoox will then begin testing its self-driving system using SUVs in both cities, before switching to purpose-built robo-taxis.

Zoox said the two new markets will help it collect data in areas different from the dense metro areas where its vehicles currently operate.

Once the company launches in Dallas and Phoenix, Zoox will operate in 10 cities in the US, along with Atlanta, Austin, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Washington, D.C. The company is currently offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco through its early rider program.

Zoox said it has logged more than a million self-driving miles in Las Vegas and San Francisco, and transported more than 300,000 passengers.

The Amazon-owned company is still awaiting federal approval for a purpose-built AV in order to launch a true commercial robotaxi service, where the vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last August granted Zoox an exemption from federal motor vehicle safety standards so the company could demonstrate its autonomous vehicles on public roads, but it is still waiting for more exemptions to operate commercially.

Zoox will also need permission from local agencies that oversee passenger transportation operations, such as the California Public Utilities Commission.

This is the first time Zoox will operate in Arizona, which has long been a hotbed for self-driving vehicle testing thanks to the state’s lax regulations, flat terrain and warm weather. Phoenix was where rival Waymo first launched its robotics service in 2020.

The company said it is opening warehouses in Dallas and Phoenix, as well as a new command center in Scottsdale, to support the new markets, which it claims will create hundreds of new jobs. These “fusion centers,” as Zoox calls them, house fleet operations teams that handle tasks like remote routing and passenger support, and provide “real-time coordination to help vehicles navigate complex scenarios, complete tasks, and support passengers when needed.”