News Summary

Waymo, the self-driving car unit owned by Alphabet, has issued a recall for over 1,200 of its robotaxis due to a software flaw that increased the likelihood of collisions with chains, gates, and similar barriers. The recall comes after multiple incidents were reported, prompting Waymo to update its software to mitigate these risks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had opened an evaluation into Waymo’s automated driving system after learning of several incidents involving stationary and semi-stationary objects. This recall marks at least the third instance where Waymo has had to update its software due to collision concerns. Despite these challenges, Waymo continues to operate a growing fleet of robotaxis in major U.S. cities including Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.