Amazon ‘s AV robotaxi unit Zoox expands to Austin and Miami

Zoox, Amazon’s (AMZN) self-driving unit, is launching its autonomous vehicles in Austin and Miami this summer. “Zoox is turning up the heat in our journey to bring safe, comfortable robotaxi rides to the world. Next stop, two iconic American cities: Austin and Miami, where we’ll soon begin testing…Austin and Miami will mark the fourth and fifth public testing locations for Zoox. We started in our home city of San Francisco in 2018, expanded testing to Las Vegas in 2019, and then moved to Seattle in 2021. This latest expansion – to a new coast, and two new states – marks a significant step forward. With millions of autonomous miles under our belt in increasingly diverse environments and conditions, we’re entering Austin and Miami confidently but with care. After conducting a brief mapping mission, we’ll deploy our retrofitted Toyota (TM )Highlander test fleet, equipped with safety drivers, in small areas near the business and entertainment districts of the two cities. This initial deployment will allow us to gather valuable insights and feedback,” said the company in part, in an earlier release .)