Zoox announced it will launch operations in Arizona, starting with Phoenix, and expand testing in Texas to Dallas as it broadens its autonomous vehicle program across the Sun Belt.
The company will open new depots in both cities and establish a Fusion Center in Scottsdale, creating hundreds of jobs locally. With the additions, its testing fleet will now operate in 10 markets: the San Francisco Bay Area, Las Vegas, Seattle, Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Phoenix, and Dallas.
Phoenix and Dallas were selected as rapidly growing metropolitan areas with strong demand for ride-hailing and first- and last-mile connections. Their sprawling layouts will generate testing data different from the dense urban environments Zoox has used elsewhere, such as San Francisco.
The cities will also help validate the technology under diverse and challenging weather conditions. Phoenix offers extreme heat and dust on high-speed roads to evaluate sensor and battery performance. Dallas provides varied weather and complex road networks to refine the AI system.
Testing will begin with a small number of retrofitted SUVs equipped with safety drivers. The vehicles will first conduct manual mapping in central neighborhoods of both cities before advancing to autonomous operations. Purpose-built robotaxis will be deployed in a later phase.
The Zoox robotaxi is unique in that it was designed from the ground up around the passenger rather than a human driver. The designers were guided by four core principles: balanced, friendly, confident, and thoughtful.
Symmetry is the most distinctive feature. The vehicle can drive equally well in either direction without turning around, aided by sensor pods at all four roof corners for 360-degree visibility. Inside, carriage-style seating allows four passengers to face one another with identical legroom and views, creating a social, living-room atmosphere where every seat offers the same premium experience and safety protection.
Soft lines and rounded corners give the toaster-shaped robotaxi a welcoming, approachable appearance often described as a “squirkle” (a mathematical cross between a square and a circle).
Large panoramic windows provide transparency and connection to the city, while the clean, bold silhouette is so iconic that it became the company’s logo. The calm, uncluttered interior uses thoughtful details such as U-shaped airbags and wraparound headrests to create a comfortable, intuitive space that prioritizes rider comfort and safety over traditional automotive design.
The new Scottsdale Fusion Center will serve as a command center for fleet operations, providing teleguidance, mission control, and rider support for navigating complex scenarios. It will be the third such facility, joining existing centers in Las Vegas and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Since launching service in Las Vegas and its Explorers program in San Francisco late last year, Zoox has driven more than 1 million autonomous miles and served more than 300,000 riders. Its custom robotaxis feature carriage seating that promotes socialization, along with safety innovations not possible in traditional vehicles.
The expansion reflects strong momentum in the company’s city-by-city growth strategy. Zoox said it looks forward to building roots in the new communities.
