Amazon’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Zoox, has initiated testing of its robotaxis in Los Angeles, marking a significant expansion of its testing operations. This new location is the sixth for Zoox, which also conducts tests in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle, Austin, and Miami. The launch of these trials in Los Angeles comes on the heels of a recent software recall of several vehicles in its fleet. In Los Angeles, Zoox is deploying a fleet of retrofitted Toyota Highlanders equipped with its self-driving technology.

This initiative aims to gather mapping data as a prelude to more extensive autonomous taxi testing set to begin this summer. While the company is currently in the early phases of testing and not yet offering rides to the public, this move establishes the groundwork for future robotaxi services in the area. In addition to the manually driven Highlanders, Zoox is also testing its custom-designed robotaxis, which are unique in that they lack steering wheels and pedals. These vehicles are already operating on public roads in the Bay Area and Las Vegas, further cementing Zoox’s position in the autonomous vehicle landscape.

The company has also recently allowed employees, media, and guests to experience its emerging service. Zoox’s expansion into Los Angeles comes shortly after Waymo, a major competitor in the autonomous taxi space, launched its own paid service in the city. Waymo, owned by Alphabet, stands out as the only company in the U.S. providing paid autonomous services across multiple cities, including plans for future expansions. As Zoox prepares to enter the commercial arena later this year, it will face significant competition, particularly from Waymo and Lyft, which plans to launch its own robotaxi fleet in 2026.

With ongoing software issues and the need for further development, Zoox has essential groundwork to cover before realizing its commercial ambitions.