AUSTIN, Texas — Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox announced this week it is deploying its robotaxis in Austin, marking the next phase of a testing program that began in the city in 2024.
The company said it has begun operating its robotaxis in a high-demand ride-hailing area south of central Austin. Rides are currently available only to Zoox employees, with plans to open service to the public through its early rider program, Zoox Explorers, later this year.
The Zoox robotaxi is a bi-directional, fully autonomous vehicle featuring subway-style sliding doors and four inward-facing seats. The company describes the vehicle as purpose-built for autonomous operation, as opposed to competitors that retrofit traditional cars with self-driving technology.
The Austin rollout is part of a broader expansion Zoox announced this week that includes service growth in San Francisco and Las Vegas, as well as a deployment in Miami.
“This expansion marks a significant step forward for Zoox,” CEO Aicha Evans said. “This is our year of growth.”
The company said it has logged nearly two million autonomous miles and carried more than 350,000 riders since launching in Las Vegas less than a year ago.