The Incident That Triggered the Recall The vehicle failed to recognize the smoke, drove into the area, then suddenly applied its brakes and tried to turn, eventually coming to a halt. No injuries were identified. On July 8, Zoox contacted the federal auto-safety agency to report what had happened. Zoox then announced a voluntary software recall for 105 of its robotaxis. That is a small fleet compared with Waymo's roughly 4,000 vehicles operating across the U.S., but the pattern worries regulators. NHTSA Is Pushing the Whole Industry This is not just a Zoox problem. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison sent a letter to all autonomous vehicle developers in which he said the agency has "identified a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders." Morrison directed AV developers and operators to "immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue." Waymo itself recalled about 3,900 robotaxis last month because several of its cars entered closed construction zones on freeways. Two separate incidents in two months from two different companies suggest the technology still struggles with unusual physical obstacles. Get the market news that matters in a five-minute read with Market Briefs, our free daily newsletter NHTSA has given every autonomous vehicle developer until the end of the month to present solutions for keeping their cars away from emergency scenes. That deadline applies to the whole industry, not just Zoox. What This Means for Amazon's Bet Amazon paid $1.3 billion to buy Zoox in 2020. The company says it is working on a fix for the 105 recalled vehicles. For investors, the bigger story is the regulatory mood. NHTSA is signaling it will hold autonomous vehicle companies to a high bar around public safety, especially near first responders. That could slow down the rollout of self-driving taxis across
Jul 18, 2026 · via briefs.co
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has just launched its new L03 in Munich, using Germany's automotive capital as the backdrop to showcase a future where artificial intelligence is as central to a vehicle as its battery or motor. The launch is part of the company's "In Europe, for Europe" strategy as it expands its presence in the region. While the sleek electric sedan is appealing, Xpeng says its real differentiator lies in its AI-powered features including intelligent voice interaction, personalized driver preferences and advanced driver assistance designed to make the driving experience more intuitive. "For us, it's all about physical AI," said Sven De Smet, Head of Brand and Product at Xpeng Europe. "We make products you can touch, where AI is able to act and react with its environment." Xpeng's new L03 is a sleek electric sedan - and part of the company's 'In Europe, for Europe' stratgey. /Natalie Carney/CGTN 'A physical AI company' The company is also developing its own AI chips, autonomous driving technology, a flying vehicle and a humanoid robot called Iron, reflecting its goal of becoming what it describes as a "physical AI company" rather than simply an automaker. "We don't see ourselves as a car company that does technology," De Smet told CGTN. "We see ourselves as a technology company that also does cars." The strategy reflects a broader transformation taking place across the global automotive industry. As electric technology becomes the standard, manufacturers are shifting their focus toward software, AI and autonomous driving capabilities. "Everybody's going into that direction to have AI-assisted driving," said Beatrix Keim, Director of the Centre for Automotive Research. "You see Mercedes partnering with Momenta, BMW with Momenta, Volkswagen with ThunderSoft, Cariad and Horizon Robotics. AI is also being used in vehicle development and manufacturing processes. It's happening throughout
Jul 18, 2026 · via newseu.cgtn.com
The firm notes that Tesla has added Miami as its fifth robotaxi market and is scaling its Texas fleet at the fastest pace among operators it tracks. The combination matters because it shifts Tesla’s story from promise to visible expansion, even if the network is still early and uneven. - TSLA stock is moving. See the chart and price action here. Tesla Adds Robotaxi Markets and Vehicles Tesla’s Texas fleet now stands at 175 vehicles, up by more than 100 in the past month, according to the note. That kind of growth gives Tesla a stronger case that its robotaxi effort is more than a demo. It is building an actual operating footprint. Bank of America also points out that Tesla now has four additional markets in preparation, which suggests the company is still pushing toward the original goal of nine cities by the first half of 2026. Miami’s launch adds another proof point that Tesla wants to expand quickly while interest in autonomous driving remains high. The robotaxi push is only one part of the bull case. Tesla’s second-quarter deliveries came in around 480,000, far above Street expectation. BofA also says the company likely gained global battery-electric vehicle share which helps offset worries that the core auto business is slowing. The Takeaway Bank of America kept its Buy rating and $460 price target on TSLA. The firm views Tesla as trying to turn autonomy into a real business while the EV business still supports the base case. For now, the most important question is whether the company can keep adding markets, vehicles and usage fast enough to justify its robotaxi ambition. TSLA Stock Price Activity: Tesla stock was down 2.32% at $381.98 at the time of publication Friday, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Over the past month, TSLA
Jul 18, 2026 · via benzinga.com
The Dyson Hot+Cool HF1 is a sleek 2-in-1 smart appliance that provides heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. Designed for year-round comfort, the $499 unit combines quiet operation and smart controls with Dyson’s signature bladeless design. I typically use a ceiling fan for the summer and a space heater for the winter. After three months of testing, the HF1 was a game changer for me, and not just because it replaced two appliances. It was HF1’s smart features that made this appliance particularly handy. Dyson provided the HF1 unit, which will be returned to the manufacturer. Although you can control the HF1 using the onboard controls or the included remote, you can also operate it from your smartphone with the MyDyson app. I found it especially convenient to turn the HF1 on or off from my phone — even when I wasn’t in the room — as well as set timers, adjust the oscillation, and create schedules so it would automatically turn on whenever I wanted. The HF1 is quiet enough for bedrooms and home offices. In Sleep mode, it operates at just 26 decibels and automatically dims its display. I’m a light sleeper who prefers complete silence at night, and I was able to adjust the fan noise quickly. The HF1 features an adjustable tilt that lets you direct airflow where you need it. For wider coverage, it can be adjusted to oscillate at 15, 40, or 70 degrees. The HF1’s intelligent thermostat continuously monitors the room and automatically adjusts its heating output to reach and maintain your chosen temperature. One important caveat: The HF1’s cooling mode is essentially a high-powered fan, not an air conditioner, so it circulates air rather than lowering the room’s temperature. One of my favorite features about the HF1 is its
Jul 18, 2026 · via techcrunch.com
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. XPeng Inc. on Thursday outlined a path to Level 4 autonomous driving by 2028 as its Mona L03 carries the automaker's latest artificial-intelligence platform into China and Europe, sharpening its challenge to Tesla Inc.. XPeng Details Next-Generation AI Platform According to a report by ElectricVehicles.com, the roadmap advances from XPeng's current SEPA 3.0 architecture to SEPA 4.0, which the company says will combine Level 4 autonomy, an in-house AI foundation model and "embodied AI" across vehicles and robots. The L03 serves as the first global showcase for SEPA 3.0, pairing XPeng's second-generation Vision-Language-Action system with its Turing chips. Don't Miss: - Still Learning the Market? These 50 Must-Know Terms Can Help You Catch Up Fast XPeng opened Chinese pre-sales at 143,800 yuan, or about $21,200. Every trim includes a Turing chip, while higher versions run the full VLA system on multiple processors. The launch follows XPeng's strongest month of 2026, when it delivered 40,126 vehicles in June, up 16% from a year earlier. L03 Sharpens Challenge To Tesla FSD The roadmap also turns the L03 into a test of Tesla's lead in assisted driving. XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng has argued that VLA performs better than FSD on narrow roads and in difficult situations. Reuters reported in May that XPeng benchmarks VLA 2.0 against Tesla's FSD v14, while Tesla's latest system still lacked Chinese regulatory approval. Reuters previously described Tesla FSD and comparable Chinese systems as Level 2 driver-assistance products, meaning drivers must remain attentive and ready to intervene. XPeng's Level 4 target would allow a vehicle to drive without human control under defined conditions, but the company has not released SEPA 4.0 performance details. See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your
Jul 18, 2026 · via autos.yahoo.com
Meta to start production of its Iris AI chip in September, aiming to double computing power to 14 gigawatts.
Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, plans to begin production of its in-house Iris AI chip in September. This move is part of Meta's strategy to double its computing capacity to 14 gigawatts, enhancing its AI and data processing capabilities. The new chip ...
Jul 18, 2026 · via pluang.com
SHANGHAI, July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD; HKEX: 0800), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced that its autonomous driving deployment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been selected as one of the Top 10 examples of international cooperation in Chinese AI technologies and products in AI From China Benefits the World (2026), in a national case collection released at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC). WeRide was the only autonomous driving company included on the list, with its UAE operations recognized as a benchmark for the international deployment of Chinese AI innovation. This underscores the growing global impact of autonomous mobility and demonstrates how Chinese autonomous driving technologies can be successfully deployed, regulated and commercialized in international markets. Officials release AI From China Benefits the World (2026) during the main forum of WAIC 2026 in Shanghai The recognition was announced at the main forum of WAIC 2026, where China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released AI From China Benefits the World (2026). Since 2024, the initiative has highlighted impactful AI cooperation projects that demonstrate how Chinese technologies deliver meaningful social and economic value globally. Today, WeRide's fully driverless Robotaxi services have become part of daily transportation in the UAE. The company operates commercial Robotaxi services in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with riders able to access the service through the Uber platform. WeRide is currently the only company outside the United States providing fully driverless Robotaxi services on Uber. The company's achievements in the UAE are the result of years of continuous deployment and collaboration with local stakeholders. WeRide began public Robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi in 2021, becoming one of the first autonomous driving companies to establish services in the country and establishing a four-year first-mover advantage in the market.
Jul 18, 2026 · via globenewswire.com
The mayor of San Francisco is tired of his city serving as an autonomous vehicle test track. In a letter sent to California transportation regulators on Wednesday, Daniel Lurie called for new statewide standards governing how autonomous vehicles respond during major disruptions, saying that stricter measures will strengthen the AV industry. "California's challenge now is not just whether autonomous vehicles can operate safely under normal conditions, but also whether they can perform reliably during extraordinary ones," Lurie wrote. "Prove it before you deploy it," Lurie added, "Before deploying autonomous vehicles, autonomous vehicle operators must demonstrate major event operational readiness through testing and exercises." Lurie's letter described two incidents that he says made new regulations necessary. The mayor said that on the evening of the Fourth of July, heavy traffic around San Francisco's waterfront left numerous Waymo vehicles immobilized, blocking travel lanes and worsening a traffic jam that trapped municipal shuttles and thousands of people trying to leave the city's fireworks celebration. Lurie also pointed to a citywide power outage in December 2025 that similarly stranded Waymo's robotaxis and paralyzed public transportation. "As autonomous vehicles comprise a larger share of the vehicles on our streets, they become part of the transportation system itself," Lurie wrote. "That carries responsibilities beyond serving individual passengers. It means supporting the critical functions that define life in a major city." Lurie's proposal would require robotaxi companies to demonstrate the ability to quickly clear disabled vehicles from active lanes, dynamically reroute service during emergencies, share real-time operational data with local agencies, and prove through testing that their systems can withstand major surges in traffic and demand. Lurie's proposal signals a shift away from voluntary commitments by companies like Waymo and toward mandatory performance requirements — a view shared by an increasing number of government agencies. The National
Jul 18, 2026 · via businessinsider.com
Zoox issues software recall because its robotaxis may be confused by smoke The NHTSA recently called for autonomous vehicle companies to improve how cars respond in emergency situations. Zoox has issued a software recall for 105 of its robotaxis because of their inability to safely drive through heavy smoke. According to the company's recall report, a Zoox robotaxi interfered with an active fire emergency, prompting the company to develop a software update and issue the recall. On June 20, a Zoox robotaxi encountered heavy smoke from a fire in a traffic lane that hadn't been cordoned off with cones. "The Zoox vehicle entered the scene, then braked hard while attempting to steer away before coming to a stop," Zoox's report says. "The Zoox vehicle, under a teleguidance tactician's guidance, reversed, after which the first responders placed traffic cones at the scene blocking two of the three through-lanes." According to the company, this is the only time a Zoox has encountered an issue with smoke like this, and the software update the company is rolling out now "enhances existing capability of detecting and responding to heavy smoke." Zoox previously issued a software recall in May 2025, after a car in its fleet collided with a passenger car in Las Vegas. Robotaxis' ability (or inability) to handle emergency situations has become a growing concern as companies like Zoox and Waymo have begun testing their software and offering rides in more cities. Earlier in July, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a letter demanding autonomous vehicle companies address the problem of robotaxis interfering in emergency situations. The NHTSA also announced plans to meet with companies before the end of July to discuss the issue. "Let me be clear: the inability to detect and appropriately respond to such situations represents a functional insufficiency.
Jul 17, 2026 · via engadget.com
Zoox has issued a recall of the software driving its fleet of 105 robotaxis after one of its autonomous vehicles drove into a smoke-obscured emergency fire scene in Las Vegas, the latest incident to draw federal scrutiny over how driverless vehicles interact with first responders. The incident behind the voluntary recall happened on June 20, during which an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi approached smoke from an active fire scene before emergency crews had fully secured the area with traffic cones. The vehicle entered the smoke, braked hard while attempting to steer away from the scene, then came to a stop. Then, under the guidance of a remote operator, it reversed out of the area. Zoox said its own investigation found no similar incidents in its operating history and that it has already deployed an over-the-air update to its software designed to improve the vehicle's ability to detect and respond to heavy smoke. The recall comes just days after National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jonathan Morrison told autonomous vehicle developers that a “clear pattern” has emerged of driverless vehicles interfering with emergency responders. The agency said it has documented incidents involving robotaxis driving into active emergency scenes, blocking ambulances and fire trucks, or failing to recognize warnings such as flashing lights, traffic cones, fire, and smoke. NHTSA plans to meet with autonomous vehicle developers by the end of the month to discuss proposed solutions. This type of problem is hardly unique to Zoox. Waymo has also been involved in several high-profile emergency-scene incidents, including one in Dallas where one of its robotaxis reportedly impeded access for fire crews responding to an apartment blaze. Safety investigators are also looking into other Waymo incidents, including reports of robotaxis passing stopped school buses displaying flashing lights. More recently, Waymo recalled about 3,900 autonomous
Jul 17, 2026 · via autoweek.com
Decoding Autonomous Driving in Mountainous Chongqing As a mountain city, Chongqing is well known for its complicated and multi-tiered road network. But this also makes it a perfect test field for intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) and autonomous driving technologies. Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications (CQUPT) spearheaded the establishment of a municipal key laboratory for ICVs and vehicle-road coordination, conducting basic research and tackling key technological bottlenecks. The focus is on trustworthy perception, high-precision positioning, safety-oriented cooperative control, and vehicle-road-cloud integration. "Traditional algorithms work well on plains, but not in Chongqing," Li Yongfu, head of the lab and a professor at the School of Automation of CQUPT, said. Multi-level flyovers complicate path planning, while the urban canyon effect created by high-rise buildings leads to frequent GPS signal loss, Li said, adding that consecutive tunnels and steep slopes can instantly render vehicles relying on optical sensors effectively "blind." A core issue that must be resolved for autonomous driving to achieve mass adoption in mountainous cities is ensuring that ICVs can operate safely, smoothly and efficiently despite incomplete perception, unstable positioning, communication latency and frequent traffic disturbances. Rather than immediately rewriting code, researchers at the lab worked on modeling. They began by examining the system-level coupling among vehicles, roads, the cloud, humans and the environment, conducting an in-depth analysis of vehicle motion under complex disturbances. This is like doing a dissection for the mountain city's transportation. The researchers not only need to know where the traffic congestion is, but also why there is congestion and how vehicles interact in this process. Cen Ming, a professor at the lab, said logistics is one of the most promising sectors for the large-scale deployment of autonomous driving. Although roads in ports and parks are relatively closed, their operating conditions are highly complex. Autonomous vehicles operating
Jul 17, 2026 · via stdaily.com
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Jul 17, 2026 · via youtube.com
The robots continue to learn and show us what they don't understand, and this week brings news of another type of emergency situation that a Zoox vehicle failed to safely navigate around. Zoox, Amazon's self-driving car subsidiary, voluntarily recalled all of its autonomous vehicles earlier this month, as KRON4 reports, following a dangerous June 20 incident in which a Zoox vehicle apparently drove into an emergency fire scene that was obscured by smoke. KRON4 obtained the safety recall report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which describes the problem as "The ADS [Automatic Driving Systems] software may fail to detect heavy smoke, allowing the vehicle to enter an area of low visibility, particularly active emergency scenes." The Zoox vehicle reportedly "encountered heavy smoke that obscured an active emergency fire scene that was not cordoned off with cones. The Zoox vehicle entered the scene, then braked hard while attempting to steer away before coming to a stop." A Zoox employee then provided "teleguidance assistance," after which the vehicle reversed safely from the scene.* The report does not say where the fire emergency occurred, but the San Francisco Fire Department was on the scene of a fire in a detached garage on an alley in the Mission District on June 20. Zoox currently only operates in San Francisco and Las Vegas. This recall follows a similar situation involving Waymo vehicles and emergency situations of several kinds. Waymo recalled nearly 3,900 of its vehicles last month, stemming from more than a dozen incidents in California and Arizona in which Waymos failed to recognize active freeway construction zones or ramp closures, which also caused Waymo to temporarily suspend freeway service. Such software recalls typically only require a brief pause in service while the companies push out wireless, "over-the-air" (OTA) software updates for the
Jul 17, 2026 · via sfist.com
Foster City, California, July 17 Brussels Morning Newspaper — Driverless car technology is in the spotlight after Amazon-owned Zoox announced a voluntary recall of its autonomous vehicles due to a software issue that may prevent the system from detecting smoke under certain conditions. The company said the problem involves the vehicle’s automated safety software rather than any mechanical component. Zoox has already begun deploying an over-the-air software update to address the issue across its robotaxi fleet. Zoox Issues Software Recall for Autonomous Fleet The recall affects autonomous vehicles operated by Zoox during testing and development. According to the company, the software may not properly recognize smoke generated by an internal malfunction, which could delay the vehicle’s response to a potential safety hazard. Because Zoox owns and operates its robotaxi fleet, the software update can be installed remotely without requiring customer service appointments. Smoke Detection Problem Highlights Safety Focus Modern autonomous vehicles rely on cameras, radar, lidar, sensors, and artificial intelligence to monitor both the road and the vehicle itself. Smoke detection is an important safety feature because it helps identify overheating components or electrical issues before they become more serious. The latest recall demonstrates how autonomous vehicle developers continue refining software as testing expands on public roads. Recall Reflects Ongoing Autonomous Vehicle Oversight Federal regulators continue closely monitoring autonomous vehicle companies as commercial robotaxi services move closer to widespread deployment. Software recalls have become increasingly common because many safety improvements can be delivered through remote updates instead of physical repairs. Zoox said it remains committed to improving safety while continuing development of its purpose-built autonomous vehicles.
Jul 17, 2026 · via brusselsmorning.com
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling for new statewide standards governing autonomous vehicles during major events and emergencies after traffic gridlock involving Waymo vehicles during the city's Fourth of July celebrations. In a letter to California's transportation secretary, Lurie urged stronger regulation of autonomous vehicles following congestion in San Francisco on July 4 and during a citywide power outage in December. More than 100,000 people came to San Francisco for Fourth of July fireworks festivities. RELATED: July 4 Waymo gridlock in SF after dozens choke streets, some lose power, 1 ran over lit fireworks According to the letter, much of the traffic disruption was attributed to Waymo vehicles and gaps in existing state oversight. The letter said the incident "demonstrated that California's current regulatory framework does not adequately address how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents, planned or not." Some residents have called for Waymo vehicles to be kept off the streets during large events. Lynnet Spiegel, who said she was stuck behind six Waymo vehicles during the holiday, said, "They definitely should not be around when there's big events happening because it just screws up the whole entire city." MORE: 3 Waymo self-driving cars in 'standoff' cause traffic jam in San Francisco Bryant Walker Smith, a law professor and transportation technology scholar, said restricting autonomous vehicles during major events could be a short-term solution in some situations but not a permanent one. "You need to be able to get that janitor home in the middle of the night. You need to be able to get that emergency room technician into the hospital, and simply saying it's too hard. Sorry, we'll see you when things work better actually isn't an option," Smith said. Lurie also said that during the July 4 gridlock, "reports indicated that
Jul 17, 2026 · via abc7news.com
We have a new and scary story about a Waymo vandalism situation that left a passenger helpless and in grave danger, and Mayor Daniel Lurie has reached out to the state about Waymos compounding the traffic nightmare on July 4th, and what could be done about it. Waymo is having a bad couple of months in the press, just as the autonomous car company is in the midst of a broad expansion effort in multiple US cities. First there was a glitch that was causing Waymos in San Antonio to drive into deeply flooded streets. Then there were the construction zone troubles, which led Waymo to temporarily suspend all freeway service in May. Then there was the grand debacle of July 4th in San Francisco, in which Waymo vehicles were widely documented blocking traffic, driving over lit fireworks, and appearing to stall en masse on a key connector road in the Presidio, making the already congested traffic situation even worse. The July 4th situation served to confirm what city officials had already seen during the December power outage, when Waymos became a hazard and a liability on the streets in an emergency, causing gridlock because they were unable to navigate through intersections with no traffic signals. SF Mayor Daniel Lurie wrote a letter this week to the State Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin, as NBC Bay Area reports, urging state leaders to take action in creating regulation around autonomous vehicles and major events or emergencies. Lurie wrote, per the Chronicle, that on July 4th, "Waymo vehicles struggled to navigate growing volumes of vehicular traffic and pedestrians," and "By the end of the fireworks show, autonomous vehicles became immobilized in travel lanes, blocking key streets and ultimately bringing traffic to a standstill." Lurie called on the state to provide a framework
Jul 17, 2026 · via sfist.com
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Jul 17, 2026 · via statesman.com
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.] Zoox recalls robotaxis after navigation issues through smoke No one was injured in June 20 incident Bloomberg News Key Takeaways: - Zoox recalled software across 105 public-road robotaxis after a June 20 incident in which a driverless vehicle struggled to navigate heavy smoke. - The update addresses autonomous-vehicle safety concerns after the robotaxi braked and stopped near a fire scene, adding smoke-detection capabilities. - NHTSA said it will continue enforcing safety rules and aims to finalize broader autonomous-vehicle competency standards before Trump's current term ends. Amazon.com Inc.’s driverless-car business issued a software recall across its fleet after one of its robotaxis struggled to navigate through heavy smoke, the latest in a string of incidents involving autonomous vehicles at emergency scenes. Zoox released a software update this week for all 105 vehicles operating on public roads, according to a document published July 17 on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. The move affects the company’s purpose-built robotaxis and not a separate testing fleet of retrofitted vehicles. The voluntary recall stems from an incident on June 20, when an unoccupied Zoox vehicle approached the scene of a fire that was obscured by heavy smoke, braking hard while attempting to steer away before coming to a stop, according to the document. Later, first responders placed traffic cones at the scene, blocking two of the three through-lanes. No one was injured, and Zoox said it’s not aware of any other instances of this kind. In a statement to Bloomberg, the company said the software update “enhances the existing capability of detecting active EV scenes by adding the ability to detect and respond to heavy smoke in certain situations.” Alex Fraser of Cox Fleet discusses how fleets should respond as roadside breakdowns test
Jul 17, 2026 · via ttnews.com
San Francisco Is Fed Up With Autonomous Cars Causing Gridlock Even the most progressive politicians have a breaking point. For San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, that point was provided by brain-dead robotaxis turning the Fourth of July holiday weekend into a total traffic nightmare. Lurie, who famously pushed for San Francisco to become a ground zero for emerging vehicle technologies, is changing his tune. The mayor has officially sent a formal letter to the California Department of Transportation demanding a significant overhaul of the state's autonomous vehicle regulatory framework. The pivot comes directly in the wake of a massive Fourth of July traffic meltdown on the city’s northern waterfront that left thousands of humans completely stranded. The city's fireworks display over the Golden Gate Bridge drew more than 100,000 spectators. As the inevitable gridlock set in following the show, dozens of Waymo autonomous vehicles became utterly bewildered by the surging traffic volumes and heavy pedestrian foot traffic. Instead of routing away or safely pulling over, more than 30 driverless vehicles froze in active travel lanes and parking zones. Exacerbating the calamity, several of the idling robotaxis completely exhausted their battery reserves while stuck, which then trapped municipal buses. Because of the multi-layered gridlock, even getting tow trucks to the scene of the blockage proved nearly impossible, with some vehicle recoveries stretching past three hours. Lurie's letter—first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle—also called back to another major failure from last December, when a power outage knocked out traffic lights across a third of the city. It caused dozens of driverless cars to freeze inside active intersections, paralyzing the city's grid and emergency first responders. "California’s current regulatory framework does not adequately address how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents, planned or not," Lurie wrote. "California’s challenge now is not just
Jul 17, 2026 · via thetruthaboutcars.com
Zoox has issued a software recall after one of its robotaxis struggled to navigate a smoke-filled emergency fire scene in June. The Amazon-owned company said Friday that it has shipped to its fleet of 105 vehicles a software update that should address the issue. Zoox told TechCrunch in a statement that the software update “enhances the existing capability of detecting active [emergency] scenes by adding the ability to detect and respond to heavy smoke in certain situations.” Nobody was on board the vehicle during the June incident, and Zoox told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it is not aware of injuries associated with the problem. The NHTSA’s report doesn’t state where the June incident took place, and Zoox declined to say. Zoox’s recall comes just a week after NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison sent a letter to self-driving car companies warning them to stop interfering with first responders. “Let me be clear: the inability to detect and appropriately respond to such situations represents a functional insufficiency,” he wrote. “Emergency scenes are not rare or extreme ‘edge cases.’ As such, NHTSA is today issuing a call to action for AV developers and operators to immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue.” TechCrunch previously reported on how Waymo has had repeated run-ins with first responders as it expands into new cities. The company had at least six incidents as of March of this year in which first responders had to physically move robotaxis from an emergency scene. NHTSA said in its report describing the recall that, on June 20, a Zoox robotaxi “encountered heavy smoke that obscured an active emergency fire scene that was not cordoned off with cones.” The Zoox vehicle “braked hard while attempting to steer away before coming to a stop.” A Zoox teleoperator was able
Jul 17, 2026 · via techcrunch.com