Amazon-owned Zoox is expanding its autonomous vehicle efforts to the East Coast. The company announced that it will begin mapping the streets of Washington, D.C. this year as it prepares to test its self-driving systems in the nation’s capital.

Zoox’s plan begins with manually driving Toyota Highlander vehicles outfitted with its sensors and autonomous software, solely for the purpose of mapping the city. Later in 2025, Zoox intends to deploy driver-assisted autonomous vehicles (with human safety operators behind the wheel) in public roads across D.C.

“With its growing population and high demand for flexible transport options, the District is an ideal next location,” Zoox said in a blog post. The company views D.C. as a strategic East Coast entry point.

Zoox declined to share how many vehicles will enter the testing program initially, but a spokesperson told TechCrunch that it will begin with a modest fleet and expand over time. The move makes Washington, D.C. Zoox’s eighth testing location, following operations in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle.

The company is also developing its own purpose-built robotaxis—vehicles that omit conventional controls like steering wheels and pedals. In Las Vegas, Zoox has already launched a free robotaxi service to the public. In San Francisco, it is running tests of its custom vehicles. To operate fully driverless services, Zoox must obtain regulatory clearance. In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) granted Zoox an exemption to run its custom robotaxis on public roads for research and demonstration. The company has filed for a broader exemption to open full commercial deployment.

The decision to incorporate D.C. is notable because of the region’s complex traffic environment, dense urban layout, and regulatory landscape. For Zoox, testing in a city like Washington presents a more stringent challenge compared to more car-friendly cities. Whichever regulatory path it takes, Zoox’s expansion gives it access to new terrain and data to improve its autonomy stack.