Zoox has announced it will be expanding its autonomous taxi testing operations to include the cities of Austin, Texas and Miami, Florida.
The fourth and fifth testing locations chosen by the company, which recently conduced a mapping operation within both cities, the expansion will see Zoox’s retrofitted autonomous Toyota Highlander test fleet operate within small areas near the entertainment and business districts of each city.
Each vehicle will be equipped with safety drivers, and will operate along pre-planned routes carefully selected to provide ample challenges for on-board autonomous sensors, such as differing traffic light placements, railway crossings and other key uncommon obstacles.
Ron Thaniel, Senior Director, Policy & Regulatory Affairs, said:We’re laying the foundations for our autonomous ride-hailing service in new cities across the US. Austin and Miami offer key learning opportunities that will support the continued growth and refinement of our testing and service.
Despite the significant expansion, Zoox maintains it will still aim to initially deploy its robotaxi vehicles in Las Vegas and San Francisco, with any further locations under review following a successful launch.
