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Zoox Chooses Washington, DC As Its Next Autonomous Vehicle Testbed

Amazon-owned Zoox chooses Washington, DC as its next autonomous vehicle testbed, marking a major step in expanding its robotaxi testing to the East Coast. The company will begin mapping the city this year before rolling out on-road autonomous driving trials.

Image Credits:Zoox

Mapping Washington Before Testing

Zoox announced that it will first deploy Toyota Highlanders equipped with its self-driving sensors and software to map Washington, DC streets. Once the mapping phase is complete, Zoox plans to test its autonomous vehicles with human safety operators behind the wheel.

“With its growing population and strong demand for flexible transport options, the District is an ideal location to begin testing and mapping our technology on the East Coast,” Zoox explained in its blog post.

A Gradual Rollout In The Capital

While Zoox hasn’t disclosed the exact number of vehicles, a company spokesperson said the Washington, DC fleet will start small and gradually grow. This measured rollout mirrors Zoox’s strategy in other cities where it tests self-driving cars under real-world conditions.

Building An East Coast Presence

Founded in 2014, Zoox has steadily expanded beyond its Silicon Valley roots. Today, it operates test vehicles in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle. With Washington, DC joining the list, the nation’s capital becomes the company’s eighth test site.

Robotaxis And The Future Of Mobility

Zoox is also working toward launching a commercial robotaxi service. Unlike retrofitted cars, its custom-built robotaxis are designed without a steering wheel or pedals. Earlier this year, Zoox rolled out a free robotaxi service in Las Vegas, one of its anchor markets. The company also began testing its purpose-built vehicles in San Francisco last November.

By choosing Washington, DC as its next autonomous vehicle testbed, Zoox is signaling its ambition to scale robotaxi services across diverse, high-demand urban centers.