Waymo, a leading ride-hailing company in the autonomous vehicle industry, recently issued a recall for 1,212 vehicles to address concerns related to minor collisions. The recall was initiated to rectify issues with the company’s fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS) software, specifically in identifying stationary and semi-stationary objects such as gates and chains. These challenges led to several incidents where Waymo vehicles collided with barriers, prompting an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Following the investigation, Waymo implemented a fleet-wide software update to resolve the problem, which was completed by late December 2024. Despite the recall being issued after the fix was applied, Waymo remains committed to maintaining a high safety standard for its autonomous technology. A Waymo spokesperson emphasized the company’s dedication to road safety and collaboration with NHTSA to ensure the reliability of their driverless vehicles.
This is not the first time Waymo has faced issues with its ADS systems causing crashes. Previous recalls in February 2024 and June 2024 addressed similar challenges with identifying obstacles and vehicles being towed. While the recent recall focuses on collision-related issues, NHTSA’s investigation into Waymo’s ADS technology remains ongoing to ensure the safety and efficiency of autonomous vehicles on the road.
As Waymo continues to innovate and improve its autonomous technology, the company remains committed to providing safe and reliable transportation services in challenging driving environments across major cities in the United States. With a track record of reducing injuries over millions of fully autonomous miles driven, Waymo aims to be the world’s most trusted driver in the evolving landscape of autonomous vehicles.