Zoox Expands US Footprint: New Robotaxis in Miami and Austin

Amazon-owned Zoox had deployed its autonomous robotaxi service on the Las Vegas, US strip back in 2025. The vehicles have since completed almost two million autonomous miles and transported more than 350,000 passengers since launch.

The company announced expansion plans to San Francisco, US and Miami, US in March 2026. Initial deployments will also begin in Austin, US and Miami, US.

Zoox's purpose-built vehicles feature subway-style doors and run on electric battery systems. A single charge could deliver up to 16 hours of operation.

Architecture of autonomous mobility

Zoox describes its vehicle as a "robotaxi designed around you". Passengers access in-seat controls for music and temperature alongside wireless charging capabilities and audio navigation cues.

The autonomous vehicles operate at speeds up to 75 mph in either direction. Four-wheel steering enables bidirectional travel without physical turning.

The sensor architecture combines cameras, radars and lidars to create a comprehensive view of the vehicle's environment. According to Zoox, this multi-sensor approach forms the foundation of its perception system.

A compute system houses proprietary autonomy software with redundant backup systems. The company states this configuration supports real-time processing of sensor data for navigation decisions.

Jesse Levinson, Co-Founder and CTO of Zoox, says: "Since our inception in 2014, we've strongly believed that a purpose-built approach is the best way to solve the challenge of autonomy and offer a wonderful experience.

"As Zoox becomes a part of our riders' daily lives, it is clearer than ever that purpose-built is the future. We are excited to build on this momentum and expand what's possible with the unique product our customers are beginning to know and love."

Deployment across four cities

Zoox was founded in 2014 and acquired by Amazon in 2020. 

Aicha Evans, CEO of Zoox, says: "This expansion marks a significant step forward for Zoox and is driven by the insights from our early deployments.

"This is our year of growth. We are actively implementing learnings to confidently and safely scale our robotaxi service across the country and bring our differentiated experience to even more riders."

From the Spring of 2026, Zoox will operate across a large portion of eastern San Francisco, US. Service areas include the Marina, North Beach, Chinatown, Pacific Heights and the Embarcadero corridor.

The San Francisco, US expansion represents a quadrupling of the company's operational footprint in the city. In Las Vegas, US, the number of service locations has more than doubled.

Austin and Miami are getting ready for initial rollouts, with deployments beginning within limited geographical areas. Rides will initially be available to Zoox employees and their families and friends before broader public access.

Commercial autonomous vehicle adoption

According to McKinsey, autonomous vehicles are approaching full commercial deployment. The consulting firm reports that Europe has hosted more than 35 autonomous vehicle pilots to date.

The US sees more than 450,000 commercial autonomous rides per week. China records more than 250,000 commercial autonomous rides weekly, according to McKinsey.

Zoox has operated as a key participant in autonomous technology development. The company spent six years developing its technology before launching commercial service.

Jeff Wilke, formerly Amazon's CEO, said when announcing the acquisition: "Zoox is working to imagine, invent and design a world-class autonomous ride-hailing experience.

"Like Amazon, Zoox is passionate about innovation and about its customers and we're excited to help the talented Zoox team to bring their vision to reality in the years ahead."