Despite the recall, Waymo's ride-hailing service, which operates in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, has not been interrupted. The company's chief safety officer, Mauricio Pena, emphasized Waymo's commitment to safely deploying its technology and transparently communicating with the public. The recall comes as autonomous vehicles face scrutiny, with a Waymo vehicle being vandalized in San Francisco and rival operator Cruise suspending operations following an incident involving a pedestrian.
Key takeaways:
- Waymo is recalling the software that powers its robotaxi fleet after two of its vehicles crashed into the same towed pickup truck in Phoenix, Arizona, marking the company's first recall.
- The company has developed, tested, and validated a fix to the software, which it started deploying to its fleet on December 20 and completed by January 12.
- The crashes occurred when the robotaxis incorrectly predicted the future motion of a backward-facing pickup truck being improperly towed, resulting in minor damage to the vehicles.
- Despite the recall, Waymo's ride-hailing service, which operates in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, has not been interrupted.