Zoox Expands Autonomous Ride-Hailing Tests to Phoenix and Dallas

Amazon-backed robotaxi developer adds two new cities to its real-world testing program.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Amazon's autonomous vehicle unit Zoox is expanding its robotaxi testing program to Phoenix and Dallas, marking the ninth and tenth U.S. locations where the company is developing its self-driving vehicle technology. Zoox says the new deployments are designed to help it gather real-world data and refine its autonomous systems before eventually launching commercial ride services.

Why it matters

The expansion of Zoox's robotaxi testing program to new cities signals the continued growth and development of the autonomous ride-hailing industry. As competition heats up among companies like Zoox, Waymo, and others, the ability to test in diverse environments will be crucial to advancing the technology and preparing for future commercial launches.

The details

In Phoenix, Zoox plans to operate vehicles in specific areas of the city, including parts of downtown. The region's desert environment with high heat and dust will provide a challenging testing ground for Zoox's vehicle sensors, battery systems, and driving software, as well as its high-speed roads. In Dallas, Zoox will face denser urban traffic patterns and a more complex network of roads, exposing its vehicles to a wider variety of driving scenarios.

  • Zoox announced the expansion on March 10, 2026.

The players

Zoox

An autonomous vehicle unit owned by Amazon that is developing self-driving technology and a purpose-built robotaxi vehicle.

Waymo

An autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet that is currently the most established operator in the robotaxi market, having already launched commercial driverless ride services in several U.S. cities.

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What’s next

Zoox plans to continue testing its robotaxi technology in Phoenix and Dallas, gathering data and refining its autonomous systems with the goal of eventually launching commercial ride services in those markets.

The takeaway

Zoox's expansion of its robotaxi testing program to new cities like Phoenix and Dallas demonstrates the continued growth and development of the autonomous ride-hailing industry, as companies race to advance their self-driving technologies and prepare for future commercial launches.