Zoox, which is owned by Amazon, will soon begin mapping the streets of Washington D.C. The company is preparing to start testing its self-driving vehicles in the nation’s capital later this year.
Initially, Zoox will use Toyota Highlanders equipped with its sensors and self-driving software to manually map the city. The company plans to advance to testing its autonomous vehicles with human safety operators behind the wheel starting this year.
Zoox described Washington D.C. as an ideal next location due to its growing population and high demand for flexible transportation options. This will be the company’s first testing and mapping effort on the East Coast.
The company has not shared specific details on the number of autonomous vehicles that will be used for testing in the city. A spokesperson indicated that Zoox will begin with a small fleet that is expected to grow over time.
Founded in 2014 and based in Foster City, California, Zoox has expanded significantly beyond Silicon Valley. The company currently operates hundreds of test vehicles on public roads and private test tracks in multiple cities, including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle. Washington D.C. will become its eighth testing site.
In addition to testing, Zoox is working towards launching a commercial robotaxi service. The company is building a fleet of custom-built robotaxis that do not have traditional controls like a steering wheel or pedals. Zoox recently opened a free robotaxi service to the public in Las Vegas, a key market where it has maintained offices and conducted testing since 2019. The company also began testing its custom self-driving vehicles in San Francisco last November.
Zoox’s ultimate goal is to launch a commercial robotaxi service in multiple markets. To achieve this, the company must meet certain regulatory requirements. This includes receiving an exemption from the federal government to deploy its custom, driverless vehicles commercially.
The company has already made progress on the regulatory front. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted Zoox an exemption in August, allowing it to demonstrate its custom-built robotaxis on public roads for research and demonstration purposes. Zoox has since filed a separate application to broaden the scope of this permission, which would pave the way for a commercial service.