Transportation

Zoox picks Washington D.C. as next self-driving test site

Ken Metral

30 Sep 2025 — 1 min read

Credit: Zoox, Inc.

Amazon-owned self-driving company Zoox announced Tuesday that it has begun mapping the streets of Washington, D.C., the first step toward testing its autonomous vehicles in the nation’s capital later this year.

To start, Zoox will deploy Toyota Highlanders outfitted with its sensors and software, driven manually, to collect high-resolution mapping data across the city. Full autonomous testing, with human safety operators behind the wheel, is expected to follow later in 2025.

“With its growing population and high demand for flexible transport options, the District is an ideal next location and optimal place to begin testing and mapping our technology on the East Coast,” Zoox wrote in a blog post.

Expanding Beyond Silicon Valley

Founded in 2014 in Foster City, California, Zoox has steadily expanded its testing footprint beyond the Bay Area. Washington, D.C. will become the company’s eighth test market, joining Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle.

The company declined to share how many vehicles will be tested in the city but confirmed it will begin with a small fleet and expand over time.

Path Toward Robotaxi Services

Zoox’s long-term ambition is a commercial robotaxi service powered by its custom-built, driverless shuttles—vehicles that lack a steering wheel and pedals. These futuristic robotaxis are already being piloted:

In Las Vegas, Zoox operates a free robotaxi service, anchored by its local office and testing program that began in 2019.
In San Francisco, the company began testing its purpose-built robotaxis in late 2024.

Zoox has logged thousands of miles with its conventional test fleet across private tracks and public roads while preparing its custom vehicles for broader deployment.

Regulatory Road Ahead

Despite progress, Zoox must clear federal hurdles before rolling out commercial robotaxis at scale. In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) granted Zoox an exemption to operate its custom vehicles for research and demonstration purposes. A broader exemption—necessary to launch paid services—is still pending.

If approved, Zoox could accelerate its commercial timeline and bring its robotaxi fleet to multiple U.S. markets in the coming years.

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