It looks like it could heat a Pop-Tart. It has no steering wheel. And it’s a foot shorter than a Mini Cooper. But the Zoox robotaxi could be a big addition to the future of mobility in Dallas.

Based in Foster City, California—and acquired by Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2020—Zoox plans to open a new depot in Dallas to prepare for the rollout of its robotaxis in the city. 

First, though, the company will deploy a small number of retrofitted SUVs that act as its “Zoox testing fleet.” They’ll focus initially on manual mapping before progressing to autonomous testing. A safety driver will be behind the wheel with the ability to disengage the AI if needed, the company said. 

Once that SUV testing step is complete, Zoox will begin testing its cute little robotaxis in Central Dallas.

Entering a Zoox robotaxi. [Photo: Zoox]

No ‘front’ or ‘back’—and it moves in both directions

Zoox robotaxis are designed for the rider, not a driver. Inside, you’ll find a carriage-style interior with two bench seats that face each other. Seating for four adults comes with seat belts and customized air bags. Cabin amenities include wireless phone charging, cup holders, and user-controlled lighting.

The all-electric robotaxi is bidirectional, with no dedicated “front” or “back.” Instead, it can change directions at will and maneuver freely thanks to four-wheel steering.  Its sensor suite features 28 cameras, 20 radar sensors, and 16 lidar sensors, delivering a 270-degree field of view “at every corner.”

A touch screen on an interior wall lets passengers manager their trips.

It may not look fast, but it can reach 75 miles per hour, Zoox says—though don’t expect that to happen in Deep Ellum on a Saturday night. 

Inside a Zoox robataxi [Photo: Zoox]

Already in Austin and 7 other markets—and expanding to Phoenix, too

Zoox said it’s also expanding to Phoenix, Arizona, with the same game plan as in Dallas. The company’s robotaxi testing fleets already operate across eight other markets, including Austin, the San Francisco Bay Area, Las Vegas, Seattle, Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington D.C.

Zoox said expanding into Dallas and Phoenix “allows us to test in sprawling environments, differentiating this data from our testing in other dense metro areas like San Francisco.” 

Dallas provides “a valuable testing ground” to refine Zoox’s AI against diverse weather and complex road networks, the company said. 

Zoox wants you to step right into their robotaxis—with seating on a bench to the right or left. [Photo: Zoox]

“Expanding our testing fleet to Dallas and Phoenix reflects the strong momentum behind our business as we continue growing city by city,” Zoox added. “We’re excited to begin building roots in these communities and look forward to the day we can invite riders there to experience Zoox firsthand. Until then, give us a wave if you see us on the road.”

Since Zoox launched its service in Las Vegas last September and its Zoox Explorers program in San Francisco last Novemver, the company says it has driven more than one million autonomous miles and served more than 300,000 riders. 

Zoox will soon begin manual mapping and autonomous testing in Dallas and Phoenix with its retrofitted SUV test vehicles. [Image: Zoox]

Joins a growing lineup of robotaxi services in Dallas

If Zoox eventually operates on Dallas streets for paying customers, it won’t be the only robotaxi service in town. 

Just last month, Waymo became the first company to offer driverless robotaxis to riders in Dallas. 

Austin-based Avride has partnered with Uber on a robotaxi service in Dallas that launched in December—but for now, that service is still using human safety drivers behind the wheel.

And last February, Lyft, the San Francisco-based ride-sharing giant, announced plans to roll out a robotaxi service in Dallas “as soon as 2026.”

But all those services operate retrofitted traditional SUVs. Zoox is rolling out something decidedly different—bringing a cutely new addition to our driverless hailing future.

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