Zoox has started deploying its purpose-built robotaxi on public roads in Austin, Texas, marking the latest phase in the company’s expansion of autonomous ride hailing services.
The rollout follows a testing program that began in mid-2024, when a retrofitted Zoox fleet was used to map the city and train its AI systems. These vehicles operated with safety drivers while collecting data, which was then transferred to the company’s purpose-built robotaxi platform.
In the initial phase, the robotaxi will operate in selected areas of Austin, including West and East Sixth, downtown, East Cesar Chavez, Riverside and the Rainey Street district. Access will initially be limited to Zoox employees, along with their family and friends, before a broader rollout.
Austin becomes the latest city in Zoox’s growing network. The company launched its first commercial ride hailing service in Las Vegas in September 2025, while early riders are also being onboarded in San Francisco.
In related news, Waymo tests robotaxis with a safety driver in London