Zoox starts mapping Dallas and Phoenix for its robotaxis

Zoox has begun mapping the streets of Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, in preparation for testing its autonomous vehicles in these two Sun Belt cities. The company deployed a small number of Toyota Highlander SUVs driven by workers to collect data and help its autonomous software learn the local environment. Following this mapping phase, Zoox plans to test its self-driving system using these SUVs before transitioning to its purpose-built robotaxis. Expanding into Dallas and Phoenix will bring Zoox’s operational footprint to 10 U.S. cities, complementing its current presence in locations such as Las Vegas and San Francisco, where it has already driven over a million autonomous miles and served more than 300,000 passengers. Zoox, owned by Amazon, is still awaiting federal approval to commercially operate its purpose-built autonomous vehicle, which lacks traditional controls like a steering wheel and pedals. Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted an exemption last August allowing public road testing, further permissions are required for commercial deployment, including local regulatory