A Zoox autonomous robotaxi in San Francisco, California, USA, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
AmazonThe company’s Zoox recalled the software in 105 of its robotaxis over concerns that its vehicles were failing to detect heavy smoke and drive into it.
Zoox notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the recall on July 8, saying it became aware of the smoke detection issue after an incident last month.
On June 20, an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi encountered heavy smoke that obscured an active emergency fire scene that was not cordoned off with traffic cones, the company wrote in its report. The vehicle entered the scene, then braked sharply and attempted to steer away before coming to a stop, Zoox said.
The company said the incident occurred in Las Vegas.
A Zoox teleguidance representative instructed the vehicle to reverse, and first responders set up traffic cones to cordon off the scene, the report said.
Zoox said it investigated the incident and determined it was “the only event of its kind” to have occurred. No injuries were noted.
Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for $1.3 billion. The company operates driverless buggies, which have no steering wheel or pedals and feature four inward-facing carriage seats, giving them a shuttle-like feel.
Zoox currently offers free rides in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco and allows select users to hail its robotaxis in small zones in Miami and Austin, Texas. Tests are also underway in six other US cities.
The voluntary recall comes after NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a directive last week to autonomous vehicle developers to ensure their vehicles do not get in the way of first responders.
Morrison said in the letter that the agency has “identified a clear pattern of driverless AV vehicles hindering law enforcement and other first responders,” citing incidents in which AV vehicles drove into active emergency scenes, blocked the path of ambulances or firefighters, or failed to detect or respond to flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire and traffic cones.
He called on AV developers and operators to “immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue” and submit their solutions to the agency by the end of the month. The letter does not name any specific AV companies.
Zoox has issued several software recalls over the past year to address lane crossing issues and the company’s ability to predict the movement of other vehicles and pedestrians.
The company is trying to catch up alphabetWaymo is the leading robotaxi service in the US and has a fleet of around 4,000 automated vehicles in the country.
Last month, Waymo recalled about 3,900 robotaxis after some of its vehicles drove into closed construction zones on highways, increasing “the risk of an accident.”
REGARD: NHTSA’s Morrison: AV developers need to address first responder issues
Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/17/amazon-zoox-recalls-robotaxi-smoke.html
