Zoox Launches Autonomous Vehicle Testing in Los Angeles
Amazon’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Zoox, has officially begun testing its self-driving technology on the streets of Los Angeles—marking a strategic expansion into its sixth U.S. city. While still in the early stages compared to compe*****s like Waymo, this move signals Zoox’s commitment to scaling its robotaxi ambitions.
The Testing Strategy: Data Collection First
Zoox is deploying a fleet of retrofitted Toyota Highlanders equipped with its autonomous driving systems. Key details:
- Manual operation phase: Vehicles will be human-driven initially to gather critical mapping data
- Future autonomy: Fully driverless testing is expected to follow this summer
- Safety focus: All vehicles currently require human safety operators
This cautious approach contrasts with Waymo, which already operates a commercial robotaxi service in LA. However, Zoox’s method emphasizes thorough data collection before full autonomy deployment.
Zoox’s Growing National Footprint
The company is actively testing across multiple cities with different vehicle types:
- Purpose-built robotaxis (no steering wheels/pedals):
- Foster City, CA
- San Francisco
- Las Vegas
- Retrofitted Highlanders with safety drivers:
- Austin
- Miami
- Seattle
- Now Los Angeles
Notably, Zoox has begun offering limited rides in its custom robotaxis to employees and vetted guests in some locations.
Recent Challenges and Industry Context
The LA expansion follows Zoox’s voluntary recall of 258 vehicles in March 2025 due to unexpected braking issues. This highlights the complex technical challenges facing autonomous vehicle developers.
Meanwhile, compe***** Waymo continues to lead the commercial robotaxi race:
- Currently operates paid services in:
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Phoenix
- Austin
- Plans to expand to Atlanta, Miami, and Washington D.C. by 2027
What’s Next for Zoox?
The LA testing phase represents a critical step toward Zoox’s goal of launching public robotaxi services in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year. As the autonomous vehicle industry matures, Zoox’s measured expansion strategy—prioritizing data collection and system refinement—could position it as a strong compe***** in the evolving mobility landscape.
Article updated with latest information from Zoox.
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