Amazon-owned self-driving technology company Zoox plans to expand autonomous vehicle testing to Austin (Texas) and Miami (Florida) in the summer (June–September), adding to its current operations in Las Vegas (Nevada), San Francisco (California), and Seattle (Washington).

The expansion aims to refine autonomous technology in diverse urban settings, although the company has not specified when it will begin commercial operations or remove safety drivers.

In Austin and Miami, Zoox will start testing its modified Toyota Highlanders with safety drivers in targeted urban areas. The company's testing includes predefined routes that challenge the vehicles' autonomous systems and random testing within specified boundaries, focusing on adapting to local traffic peculiarities like unique traffic light configurations and challenging weather.

Zoox is also preparing for its first commercial launch of its custom-built robotaxis in Las Vegas and Foster City (California), with plans to offer free rides to the public under the pilot permit.

Analyst QuickTake: Zoox is under federal investigation following safety incidents concerning unexpected braking and pedestrian safety incidents. Peer autonomous vehicle companies like General Motors' Cruise and Alphabet’s Waymo are also under investigation, and, hence, with the increased scrutiny, all these companies today seem to be maintaining a cautious approach to their testing and deployment strategies, first testing the technology in different markets and refining it.