Nearly 3,800 Waymo Robotaxis Recalled Over Concerns About Driving In Flooded Roadways
Forbes • • business
Key Points:
- Waymo is recalling nearly 3,800 driverless cars due to a software issue that may cause vehicles to drive through flooded roadways, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- The recall was prompted by an incident on April 20 in San Antonio where an empty Waymo vehicle drove through a flooded lane despite detecting the hazard, leading the company to pause service briefly during heavy rain.
- Following the incident, Waymo implemented new restrictions including weather-related operational controls and map updates to improve safety during extreme weather conditions.
- Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli stated the recall addresses improvements for handling untraversable flooded lanes on higher-speed roads, and the company is adding software safeguards and limiting vehicle access to flood-prone areas.