Zoox begins mapping Dallas and Phoenix for robotaxis

Zoox is currently mapping the streets of Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, in preparation for testing self-driving cars in two Sunbelt cities.

The company announced Monday that it will send small numbers of Toyota Highlander SUVs to cities, where employees will drive the vehicles and help Zoox’s self-driving software map the terrain. Zoox will then begin testing its self-driving system using SUVs in both cities before switching to dedicated robotaxis.

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

Once the company launches in Dallas and Phoenix, Zoox will have operations in 10 U.S. cities, in addition to Atlanta, Austin, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington, DC. The company is currently offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco through its Early Rider program.

Zoox said it has driven more than 1 million autonomous miles and transported more than 300,000 passengers in Las Vegas and San Francisco.

The Amazon-owned company is still awaiting federal approval for its purpose-built AV to launch a true commercial robotaxi service, as the vehicles have no steering wheel or pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last August granted the company an exemption from federal motor vehicle safety standards to allow it to demonstrate its AVs on public roads, but it is awaiting further exemptions to operate it commercially.

Zoox will also need permits from local agencies that oversee ride-hailing 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 lenient regulations, flat terrain and warm climate. Phoenix is ​​where rival Waymo first launched its robotaxi service in 2020.

To support new markets, the company announced it would open warehouses in Dallas and Phoenix, as well as a new command center in Scottsdale, which it claims will create hundreds of new jobs. These “fusion centers,” as Zoox calls them, house vehicle operations teams that handle tasks such as remote guidance and lidar support, providing “real-time coordination to help vehicles navigate complex scenarios, complete missions, and support lidar as needed.”