Zoox is expanding its robotaxi operations in its first two U.S. markets, Las Vegas and San Francisco, while preparing to launch services in Miami and Austin.
The company is positioning itself as a major competitor in the U.S. robotaxi sector, behind Waymo, part of Alphabet Inc.. Zoox operates a purpose-built autonomous vehicle designed without a steering wheel, pedals or driver’s seat, capable of carrying up to four passengers.
Since launching its driverless ride-hailing service in Las Vegas in September 2025 and in San Francisco in November, Zoox has been gradually scaling operations. The company now plans to significantly expand service coverage in both cities.
In Las Vegas, Zoox has more than doubled its service locations, adding key destinations such as the Las Vegas Convention Center, major hotels along the Strip, and event venues including the Sphere and T-Mobile Arena. Initial testing at new locations will involve Zoox employees before opening to the public later this spring. The company is also preparing to connect its service to Harry Reid International Airport, although it continues to operate using fixed pick-up and drop-off zones.
In San Francisco, Zoox said it will quadruple its operational area, expanding into neighborhoods including Marina, North Beach, Chinatown and Pacific Heights, as well as along the Embarcadero. The expansion is expected to ease previous capacity constraints that required a waiting list for users.
To support future launches, Zoox has been operating a fleet of retrofitted Toyota Highlander vehicles in Austin and Miami since 2024. These vehicles, equipped with advanced sensors and a safety driver, are used to map urban environments and train the company’s autonomous driving system.
Once sufficient data is collected and validated, Zoox transfers the software to its fully autonomous vehicles. The company also uses the test fleet to accumulate driving data required to demonstrate safety to regulators.
The initial rollout in Austin and Miami will be limited to Zoox employees and selected participants, with operational areas expanding over time. A customer waiting list is expected to open first in Austin, followed by Miami, allowing selected users—referred to as “Zoox Explorers”—to join pilot programmes.
Separately, Zoox recently announced a partnership with Uber, under which its robotaxis will be available for booking via the Uber app in Las Vegas starting this summer. The companies plan to extend the service to Los Angeles by mid-2027.
