Amazon’s autonomous‑vehicle unit Zoox and Alphabet’s Waymo announced on Tuesday that they are expanding their driverless ride‑hailing operations into additional U.S. markets. The moves come as both companies race to scale autonomous transportation and compete with each other and with Tesla.
Zoox adds Houston and San Diego
Zoox said it will start testing its robotaxi service in Houston, Texas, and San Diego, California. The company will initially deploy retrofitted test vehicles to conduct manual mapping and validation before rolling out its purpose‑built, fully driverless fleet. With these two new locations, Zoox’s footprint now covers 12 U.S. cities.
Zoox has previously carried passengers for free in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Austin and Miami as part of its testing program. In August it began offering paid rides in Las Vegas, marking its first commercial launch.
Waymo opens service in Denver, San Diego and Tampa
Waymo announced that it will begin welcoming its first public riders in Denver, Colorado; San Diego, California; and Tampa, Florida. The company plans a gradual rollout, expanding access to riders in each city over time. After the expansion, Waymo’s autonomous ride‑hailing service will be available in 14 U.S. cities.
Waymo already operates paid driverless services in several major markets and is extending its reach overseas. Last month the company said it would start testing in Munich, Germany, ahead of a planned commercial launch there by the end of 2027.
Implications for the autonomous‑vehicle industry
The simultaneous expansions by Zoox and Waymo underscore the accelerating competition to dominate the emerging robotaxi market. Both firms are leveraging advances in sensor technology, mapping, and artificial‑intelligence to offer safe, driverless transportation options to the public.
Industry observers note that increased city coverage could spur broader consumer acceptance of autonomous rides, potentially reshaping urban mobility and reducing reliance on traditional taxi services.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
