Overview
- Waymo is pulling back roughly 3,800 U.S. robotaxis after an April 20 incident in San Antonio where an empty car detected standing water, slowed, and still drove into a creek.
- The voluntary recall filed with federal regulators covers vehicles running the company’s fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems.
- Waymo says it pushed an interim over-the-air software update the same day as the incident and is limiting routes in areas at higher risk for flash flooding on faster roads.
- Media reports differ on San Antonio service, with one outlet saying rides will stay paused until a final fix and another saying the company is preparing to resume public trips.
- The problem stems from the decision layer of the software, which recognized floodwater but still allowed the car to proceed at a reduced speed, showing how severe weather can confound current robotaxis.