(Reuters) – Amazon.com’s robotaxi unit Zoox said on Wednesday it plans to begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas and Miami. The move will be the first testing sites outside the western United States.
Zoox will deploy its test fleet of modernized Toyota (NYSE:) Mountaineers with drivers keeping people safe in small areas near the business and entertainment districts of two cities, the statement said.
In California and Nevada, Zoox is testing its own autonomous vehicles, built without a steering wheel or pedals and seating four passengers, two of whom are facing each other.
The announcement comes amid an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into 500 Zoox vehicles equipped with automated driving systems following two crashes.
Austin and Miami will be Zoox’s fourth and fifth public testing locations, as the company has already opened operations in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Seattle.
Zoox said it won’t offer public rides in Austin and Miami for now, but is exploring several cities for commercial offerings after an initial launch in target markets of Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Along with Zoox, self-driving robotaxi companies such as General Motors’ (NYSE:) Cruise and Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:) Waymo have been embroiled in NHTSA investigations into the performance of self-driving cars.
Cruise said Monday it had resumed operations in Dallas, Texas, with a small fleet of human drivers after the company suspended operations following an incident in San Francisco involving one of its robotaxis last October.