Waymo has issued a voluntary recall for the software that powers its robotaxi fleet following two crashes into the same towed pickup truck in Phoenix, Arizona in December. This marks the company’s first recall.
Waymo’s chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, described the crashes as “minor” in a blog post and clarified that neither vehicle was carrying passengers at the time, and there were no injuries. He also emphasized that the recall has not affected Waymo’s ride-hailing service in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.
The company began deploying a fix to the software on December 20, and all of its robotaxis received the software update by January 12.
Peña emphasized that the voluntary recall reflects Waymo’s commitment to safety and transparent communication with the public.
This recall comes at a time when self-driving cars are under intense scrutiny following a series of high-profile crashes and controversies.
The recall was prompted by two crashes on December 11 involving improperly towed pickup truck. Both crashes resulted in minor damage to the robotaxis, prompting Waymo to take decisive action.
Waymo also informed the relevant authorities about the crashes and has been in consistent communication with them, demonstrating its commitment to transparency and accountability.
The recall is expected to increase public pressure on Waymo, as the promise and pitfalls of autonomous vehicles continue to be a subject of intense scrutiny from various stakeholders.
