Waymo recall follows San Antonio robotaxi flood incident

Key Points:

• Waymo is recalling its U.S. fleet of 3,791 robotaxis after an autonomous vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in San Antonio on April 20, prompting a voluntary software recall and operational suspension in the city.
• The incident involved an unoccupied vehicle that detected but continued into flooded roadways, leading Waymo to implement software safeguards, restrict operations during severe weather, and update service-area maps.
• This was the second flooding-related incident in San Antonio within two weeks, and the resulting shutdown there has become Waymo’s longest service interruption to date.
• Despite resuming autonomous operations in San Antonio, Waymo is not currently serving riders there and has faced additional scrutiny from federal agencies over safety concerns, including a recent NHTSA investigation and a National Transportation Safety Board report on school bus violations.
• Waymo continues to expand limited robotaxi service in Texas, operating in San Antonio and Austin, with airport services recently launched at San Antonio International Airport and testing underway at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.