Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines from Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — An autonomous mobility company is taking Austin for a test drive.
Zoox announced Wednesday it will begin public testing in Austin and Miami this summer — the fourth and fifth public testing locations for the company.
Zoox said it will send out its autonomous, Toyota Highlander testing fleet with safety drivers near business and entertainment districts around the city.
“The retrofitted test fleet is used to validate the company’s autonomous driving software before it is deployed on the Zoox robotaxi as well as for manual missions such as mapping new areas,” Zoox said in a release.
The company started testing in San Francisco in 2018, expanded to Las Vegas the next year and added Seattle in 2021.
Zoox described its expansion to Austin and Miami as a “significant step forward.”
“We’re not here to impose — we’re here to be a valuable resource and a good neighbor in the community we serve. As always, we’re dedicated to working closely with local officials, regulators, and residents to ensure a safe and seamless integration of Zoox into these cities. Our philosophy is “no surprises,” and transparency and collaboration are central to our approach. We look forward to building great relationships every step of the way,” Zoox said on its website.
AVs in Austin
In March 2024, AV company Waymo started testing its fully autonomous cars in Austin with no driver behind the wheel. The company first made an impression in Austin in 2015 when a Waymo rider became the first member of the public to take a ride in a fully autonomous car, which drove down a public street in Austin.
Robotaxi company Cruise paused all driverless operations, including Austin, in October 2023, saying it was exploring ways to rebuild public trust. At that time, the City said it had received over 40 complaints connected with driverless cars between July and Oct. 16, 2023.
Cruise resumed operations, only in Phoenix, in April 2024 with human drivers inside of the vehicles. The company hasn’t publicly announced whether it will expand operations back into Austin.
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