Amazon's Zoox brings robotaxi testing to Houston
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Zoox will begin with retrofitted SUVs with safety drivers before it brings its robotaxis. Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
Another autonomous vehicle company is coming to Houston.
Why it matters: Zoox, Amazon's robotaxi company, is joining Houston's growing autonomous vehicle industry, as the city continues to serve as a testing ground for self-driving technology.
Driving the news: Zoox will begin testing in Houston later this month, initially using retrofitted SUVs with safety drivers to map streets and collect data, the company announced Tuesday.
Zoom in: Initial testing will cover Rice Village, the Texas Medical Center, the Galleria area, Memorial Park, Downtown, Midtown and Hyde Park.
- The company plans to eventually test its autonomous robotaxis and open a local depot for charging and maintenance.
What they're saying: "Houston is our most sprawling market to date," Zoox said in its announcement, pointing to the city's "complex service-road networks, unique merging scenarios" and extreme heat, heavy rain and flooding as "rigorous" tests for its technology.
Zoom out: Houston will be Zoox's 12th U.S. market, joining cities including Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix and Seattle.
What we're watching: Zoox hasn't said when its robotaxis will begin accepting rides.
The bottom line: With Waymo, Uber, Nuro, Tesla and now Zoox in Houston, the city is becoming robovehicle central.