- Zoox recalled software in 270 vehicles after a crash involving an unoccupied robotaxi and a passenger car in Las Vegas on April 8.
- This is Zoox’s second recall in 2024, with the first issued in March due to unexpected hard braking issues.
Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has voluntarily recalled software installed in about 270 of its robotaxis after a crash in Las Vegas earlier this month. The company paused its driverless testing program on April 8, the day of the incident, and resumed operations nine days later after issuing a software update.
According to the company and a report submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the crash occurred when an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi collided with a passenger vehicle that approached from a commercial driveway.
Zoox stated that the autonomous vehicle misjudged the other car’s movement, slowing down and steering to the right. However, the passenger car came to a complete stop and remained in the shoulder lane, making contact with the robotaxi inevitable.
“No injuries were reported and minor damage occurred to both vehicles,” Zoox confirmed in a blog post.
Software Error Prompts Recall
The voluntary recall targets a specific version of Zoox’s automated driving system due to concerns that the software could inaccurately predict the trajectory of other vehicles, increasing the likelihood of a crash. Although 270 vehicles are affected, Zoox clarified that the number does not reflect the total size of its fleet.
This marks the second recall for Zoox this year. In March, the company recalled 258 vehicles due to a software issue that could cause sudden, unexpected braking.
Despite the setback, Zoox is moving ahead with its plan to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas later this year. The company has been testing its custom-built, steering wheel-free vehicles and retrofitted Toyota Highlanders in multiple cities, including San Francisco, Austin, Miami, and Seattle.
Earlier this year, Zoox also began offering test rides to employees, media, and vetted guests along the Las Vegas Strip.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
