Overview
- The rider says the trunk would not open during his first driverless trip Monday at San Jose Mineta International Airport, and the car left with his suitcase, forcing him to fly to San Diego without clothes or work notes.
- He reached Waymo support right away, and agents told him the vehicle was already returning to a depot and could not be turned back.
- Waymo later emailed that his bag was secured at a local depot and said he could either pay for shipping or use two complimentary rides to retrieve it.
- The company’s posted policy says it does not reimburse the value of items left after trips and says the trunk should open automatically or via the app, which the rider says did not work.
- The incident adds pressure on driverless taxi rollouts as San Jose began paid airport service in November and California has moved to let police ticket autonomous taxis for moving violations.