Amazon's Zoox expands robotaxi tests to Phoenix and Dallas

Zoox aims to compete with Waymo and Tesla in the autonomous vehicle market.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Amazon's Zoox autonomous vehicle division announced it will begin testing its robotaxi vehicles in Phoenix and Dallas, expanding its operations beyond its initial test markets. Zoox will initially deploy a small fleet of retrofitted Toyota Highlander SUVs with human safety drivers, before transitioning to its custom-built, toaster-shaped autonomous vehicles.

Why it matters

The robotaxi market is highly competitive, with major players like Waymo, Tesla, and now Zoox vying for a share. Zoox's expansion into new markets signals its ambition to challenge the industry leaders and capture a larger slice of this emerging transportation sector.

The details

Zoox, an Amazon-owned company that develops custom autonomous vehicles, said it would begin testing its robotaxi operations in Phoenix and Dallas. The company will initially deploy a small fleet of retrofitted Toyota Highlander SUVs with human safety drivers, before eventually transitioning to its own custom-built, toaster-shaped autonomous vehicles.

  • Zoox announced the expansion on March 9, 2026.

The players

Zoox

An Amazon-owned company that develops custom autonomous vehicles.

Waymo

A subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. and a major player in the autonomous vehicle market.

Tesla

An electric vehicle manufacturer that is also developing autonomous driving capabilities.

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The takeaway

Zoox's expansion into Phoenix and Dallas signals its ambition to challenge industry leaders like Waymo and Tesla in the highly competitive robotaxi market. As autonomous vehicle technology continues to evolve, consumers can expect to see more options for self-driving transportation in the coming years.