Amazon Zoox recalls 105 robotaxis as NHTSA cracks down on AVs
Amazon's Zoox has recalled software in 105 robotaxis over a failure to detect smoke, underscoring the regulatory risks facing autonomous vehicle operators as federal scrutiny of emergency response capabilities intensifies.
Amazon’s Zoox has issued a voluntary software recall affecting 105 of its robotaxis after one of its unoccupied vehicles drove into heavy smoke at an active emergency fire scene in Las Vegas last month. The company notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the recall on July 8, noting that no injuries occurred and that it considers the event isolated.
On June 20, the driverless vehicle encountered thick smoke obscuring a fire scene that had not been cordoned off with traffic cones. The robotaxi entered the hazardous area, executed a hard brake while attempting to steer away, and ultimately stopped. A remote Zoox teleguidance operator then instructed the car to reverse before first responders physically blocked the scene with cones.
The recall carries weight for the sector because it lands squarely amid heightened regulatory pressure. Last week, NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison directed AV developers to immediately fix a "clear pattern" of driverless vehicles interfering with first responders. Morrison cited multiple incidents where autonomous cars blocked ambulances, drove into active emergency scenes, or failed to recognize flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones. Regulators are demanding solutions by the end of this month.
For Amazon, the software fix highlights the persistent operational hurdles facing Zoox as it attempts to scale its operations. Acquired by the tech giant for $1.3 billion in 2020, Zoox operates a unique fleet of shuttle-like vehicles that lack traditional steering wheels and pedals. The company currently offers free rides in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco, allows select hailing in Miami and Austin, and is testing in six other US cities. Zoox also issued several software recalls last year to address problems with lane crossings and predicting the movement of pedestrians and other vehicles.
The company is racing to close a substantial gap with Alphabet’s Waymo, which commands the US robotaxi market with roughly 4,000 automated vehicles. However, Waymo itself recalled about 3,900 vehicles last month over a separate issue where cars drove into closed construction zones. The recurring software patches across the industry's top competitors underscore the ongoing engineering challenges and capital requirements involved in safely deploying autonomous fleets at scale.
