Zoox in Austin
In Austin, Zoox is running tests. You cannot book a ride there yet.
- Status
- Testing
- Announced
- March 2026
Zoox is currently testing its robotaxi in Austin. Only Zoox staff and their relatives or friends can ride, so the service is not available for public bookings. These driverless taxis use computers to steer, brake, and pick up riders. Zoox introduced its Austin robotaxi in March 2026, and it remained closed to the public as of late September 2026.
- Current phase: Private testing; public rides unavailable
- Austin launch announced: March 2026
- Riders so far: Zoox staff, their relatives, and their friends
- What happens next: The waitlist should open soon
Where Zoox Operates in Austin
The vehicles operate in downtown Austin and a few nearby neighborhoods. In its own announcement, Zoox names these Austin service neighborhoods: West Sixth, East Sixth, East Cesar Chavez, downtown, Riverside, and Rainey Street.
This small footprint fits a service that is still being tested. The routes cover a handful of central neighborhoods rather than the entire city.
Zoox test vehicles have been driving and mapping these streets since mid-2024, well before the March 2026 announcement. The boundary may shift while testing continues, so it is best viewed as the initial area rather than a permanent limit.
What Comes Next for Zoox in Austin?
Ordinary riders will need to join a waitlist first. This is a sign-up list for people who provide their information and wait to be invited. Zoox says its Austin waitlist will open soon, based on its service updates page.
Zoox plans to introduce its Explorers program in Austin next. The program is for early riders, meaning the first members of the public chosen to ride before general access begins. Zoox hasn't given dates for either step yet, so keeping an eye on its service updates page is the easiest way to hear when sign-ups open.
Robotaxi Options in Austin Right Now
There are ways to enjoy a driverless ride in Austin without waiting for Zoox. Two other companies already offer rides.
| Company | Public availability | Booking method |
|---|---|---|
| Zoox | Still in testing | No public booking |
| Tesla Robotaxi | Since June 2025 | Through Tesla Robotaxi |
| Waymo | Since March 2025 | Book through Uber |
Tesla Robotaxi began accepting riders in Austin on June 22, 2025, per Wikipedia. Obi reports an average fare of $8.17 per Tesla Robotaxi trip. Waymo has offered driverless rides in Austin through Uber since March 2025, as reported by CBS Austin. Austin riders do not need to download a separate Waymo app. They request a ride with Uber and might receive a Waymo vehicle.
Riding a Robotaxi in Austin Today
You can ride in a robotaxi in Austin today, just not a Zoox one. Tesla Robotaxi has carried riders here since June 2025, and you can get a driverless Waymo ride by booking through Uber.
Zoox vehicles in Austin carry only staff, their families and friends. The Charge Port's robotaxi tracker says that you cannot wave one down or reserve a ride. Public access should begin when the waitlist opens and early invitations go out.
Zoox in Other Cities
Public riders can already use Zoox in Las Vegas and San Francisco.
| Location | Current access | Date opened | Competing services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | Public rides available | September 10, 2025 | Waymo (September 2026), Motional through Uber (March 2026) |
| San Francisco | Early riders only | November 18, 2025 | Waymo (June 2024), Tesla Robotaxi rides (July 2025) |
| Miami | Private testing for staff and guests; not open yet | Not open yet | Waymo (January 2026), Tesla Robotaxi (July 2026) |
Zoox began public rides on and near the Strip in Las Vegas on September 10, 2025. The cost is fairly high. A Zoox trip averaged $22.62 across 6 Las Vegas journeys, exceeding Lyft's price for those same journeys, as Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. In March 2026, Uber and Motional began offering their own robotaxi rides in the city, per Uber. Waymo began public rides in September 2026 and is adding riders gradually.
Public riders in San Francisco could join the Zoox Explorers program when it opened on November 18, 2025, per Wikipedia. Tesla has offered Robotaxi rides in San Francisco since July 2025 with a human safety monitor aboard, according to Obi. Per Wikipedia, public Waymo rides have been available throughout the Bay Area since June 2024.
Miami currently resembles Austin. Since April 23, 2026, Zoox has carried only employees, their families, and friends, as tracked by The Charge Port. Per Wikipedia, Tesla began offering rides without supervision on July 3, 2026. Waymo welcomed its first public riders in January 2026, as announced by Waymo.