Amazon's Zoox to Test Robotaxis in Dallas and Phoenix

Zoox expands autonomous vehicle testing to new markets as competition in the robotaxi space heats up.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Amazon's self-driving subsidiary Zoox announced it will begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Dallas and Phoenix, expanding its footprint to 10 U.S. cities. The company will initially deploy retrofitted Toyota Highlander SUVs with human safety drivers to map the new cities before eventually rolling out its purpose-built robotaxis.

Why it matters

Zoox's expansion into Dallas and Phoenix represents the company's continued push to develop and test its autonomous vehicle technology in diverse environments. As competition in the robotaxi market intensifies, with players like Waymo and Tesla also making strides, Zoox's ability to gather data and iterate on its systems in new markets will be crucial.

The details

Zoox says the new testing locations will allow it to evaluate its sensors and battery performance in unique conditions, with Phoenix's extreme heat, dust and high-speed roads, and Dallas' sprawling roads and varied weather. The company is also opening new depots in both cities and a command hub in Scottsdale, Arizona to handle fleet operations, remote guidance and rider support.

  • Zoox announced the new testing locations on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Zoox

Amazon's self-driving subsidiary that was acquired for $1.3 billion in 2020. Zoox has been steadily expanding its autonomous vehicle testing and deployment, with a presence in 10 U.S. cities to date.

Waymo

The self-driving division of Alphabet, Google's parent company, that has continued to rapidly expand its robotaxi operations across the U.S.

Tesla

The electric vehicle manufacturer that launched its own Robotaxi service last year, though it is currently limited to parts of Austin, Texas.

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What’s next

Zoox plans to initially deploy retrofitted Toyota Highlander SUVs with human safety drivers in Dallas and Phoenix to map the new cities, before eventually rolling out its purpose-built robotaxis.

The takeaway

Zoox's expansion into Dallas and Phoenix is part of the company's broader push to develop and test its autonomous vehicle technology in diverse environments, as competition in the robotaxi market continues to intensify with players like Waymo and Tesla also making significant strides.