GoKawiilAmazon 's Zoox self-driving unit is preparing to launch its robotaxi service to some members of the public in Austin and Miami later this year, the company announced Tuesday.
Zoox will soon deploy its toaster-shaped robotaxis, which have no steering wheel or pedals, for testing in "a small area" of both cities. Trips will initially be limited to Zoox employees and their family and friends, before it launches its Explorer program, where the public can join a waitlist to ride in the vehicles.
The company has slowly opened up its robotaxi service to the public over the past year.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, began offering free driverless rides last year around the Las Vegas Strip and certain San Francisco neighborhoods. As of late March, the company said it had served 350,000 riders and about 500,000 people have joined its waitlist.
Zoox is racing to catch up to Alphabet 's Waymo, the U.S. robotaxi leader. Waymo currently offers 400,000 paid rides per week across six U.S. metro areas. It's now operating its service commercially in 10 U.S. cities and aiming for expansion to London and Tokyo this year.
As part of Tuesday's announcement, Zoox is also expanding its service areas in San Francisco and Las Vegas.
The move will quadruple Zoox's coverage in San Francisco to include the Marina, North Beach, Chinatown and Pacific Heights neighborhoods, as well as along the Embarcadero. Previously, its service was limited to the city's SoMa, Mission and Design districts.