Self-driving technology company Zoox is currently mapping the streets of Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, as it prepares to test its self-driving cars in the two Sun Belt cities. The company said on Monday it had dispatched a small number of Toyota Highlander SUVs to the two cities. Staff will drive the vehicles to help Zoox's self-driving software become familiar with the local environment. Zoox will then begin testing its self-driving system using SUVs in the two cities before switching to its purpose-built self-driving taxis.
Zoox said the two new markets will help the company collect data in areas different from the dense metropolitan areas where its existing vehicles operate.
Once operational in Dallas and Phoenix, Zoox will operate in 10 U.S. cities, including 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 says it has completed more than 1 million self-driving 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 self-driving car to launch a true commercial self-driving taxi service, as the vehicle does not have a steering wheel or gas or brake pedals. Last August, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted Zoox an exemption from federal motor vehicle safety standards to enable it to demonstrate its self-driving cars on public roads, but the company is still awaiting further exemptions required for commercial operations. Zoox also needs to obtain permission from local agencies that regulate ride-hailing operations, such as the California Public Utilities Commission.
This is the first time Zoox has launched operations in Arizona. Arizona has long been a hotbed for self-driving car testing, thanks to the state's lax regulations, flat terrain and warm climate. Phoenix is where rival Waymo first launched its self-driving taxi service in 2020.
To support new markets, the company said it will open vehicle bases in Dallas and Phoenix and a new command center in Scottsdale, which it said will create hundreds of new jobs. Zoox calls these facilities "fusion centers" that house fleet operations teams that handle tasks such as remote guidance and passenger support, providing "real-time coordination to help vehicles cope with complex scenarios, complete tasks and provide support to passengers when needed."
