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Waymo

All articles tagged with #waymo

technology1 day ago•8 min saved

Robotaxis Block SF Emergencies, Triggering Scrutiny

Since April 2025, San Francisco firefighters have filed at least 31 internal reports accusing Waymo and other robotaxi operators of obstructing emergency operations, causing delays and forcing responders to move stalled vehicles—including several incidents during life-threatening calls and the 2025 PG&E blackout when dozens of AVs were stranded. Regulators are examining the issue: California has laws requiring AVs to answer emergency calls quickly and to allow blocking certain areas, and SF Supervisor Connie Chan plans legislation to cite companies for obstructions. Waymo says it trains for first responders, maintains a 24/7 emergency line, and uses incident reports to improve, while noting these reports reflect the agencies’ perspective and that most AV interactions with emergency vehicles are safe; critics urge standardized reporting and faster fixes.

via The San Francisco Standard|

#autonomous-vehicles #emergency-services #regulation

technology2 days ago•10 min saved

Waymo robotaxi halts teen gel-bead drive-by, police involved

Two California teens allegedly drank alcohol and fired a gel-bead shooter from a Waymo robotaxi; the car stopped, alerted 911, and police detained them. Waymo’s rider rules ban alcohol for minors, require an accompanying adult for riders under 18, and forbid throwing objects or weapons. The incident illustrates how the robotaxi can enforce rider guidelines through its cameras and systems, with no DUI charge reported.

via Ars Technica|

#drive-by #orbeez #robotaxi

technology3 days ago•2 min saved

Waymo Expands Robotaxi Footprint to Four U.S. Cities

Waymo will begin offering fully driverless robotaxi rides in four new U.S. cities—San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Denver—starting with employee pilots before a broader public rollout, expanding its lead in the U.S. autonomous-vehicle market; the company plans London service later this year and had about 4,000 robotaxis in its fleet as of May.

via CNBC|

#autonomous-driving #expansion #robotaxi

technology3 days ago•4 min saved

Waymo reports teen riders to police after in-car mischief

A Waymo self-driving car in San Mateo contacted police after two 15-year-olds allegedly drank alcohol and fired toy guns inside the vehicle; officers detained the youths. Waymo says its cars have internal cameras and live support for emergencies and safety, but it does not use facial recognition. A separate incident in Santa Monica involved teens taking selfies and firing Orbeez from a Waymo, prompting police response.

via Los Angeles Times|

#autonomous-vehicles #police #safety

technology5 days ago•3 min saved

Waymo’s driverless fleet stranded in SF as July Fourth gridlock drains batteries

Waymo’s driverless cars in San Francisco were left stranded and several had to be towed after batteries drained in heavy Fourth of July traffic and fireworks-related congestion; one vehicle even caught fire after driving over fireworks, though no injuries were reported. The company said roadside assistance cleared the vehicles and that it’s evaluating ways to strengthen resilience in major disruptions.

via NBC News|

#autonomous-vehicles #fourth-of-july #san-francisco

technology5 days ago•7 min saved

Waymo Robotaxis Grounded by Fourth of July Gridlock in San Francisco

During San Francisco’s Fourth of July celebrations, some Waymo robotaxis stalled, ran out of charge while idling, or were towed amid severe gridlock, prompting the company’s roadside assistance to respond; Waymo said the disruptions were due to traffic and coordination with authorities, with no injuries reported. The company operates about 2,500 robotaxis across several US cities and relies on a multisensor system (29 cameras, five lidars, six radars) to drive autonomously.

via Business Insider|

#autonomous-vehicles #gridlock #robotaxi

business12 days ago•7 min saved

Megacaps Take the Lead: Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft Highlight the Mag7 Buy Case

The Motley Fool identifies Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft as standout buys within the Magnificent Seven, citing Alphabet’s strong Google Cloud growth and Waymo expansion, Meta’s AI-enhanced ad platform and open-source Llama framework, and Microsoft’s Azure-driven enterprise expansion and Copilot tools that reinforce customer lock‑in and scalable profitability.

via The Motley Fool|

#alphabet #business #google-cloud

technology20 days ago•40 min saved

LA Neighbors Push Back as Waymo Tests Driverless Car Staging on Local Streets

Residents along Los Angeles streets are pushing back against Waymo’s driverless-car testing, saying vehicles used for staging block driveways and curb space, worsen traffic, and raise safety concerns, prompting calls for limits and clearer rules for where autonomous cars can wait.

via Yahoo|

#los-angeles #neighborhoods #self-driving

technology21 days ago•2 min saved

Waymo recalls nearly 3,900 robotaxis over construction-zone software issue

Waymo is voluntarily recalling about 3,900 robotaxis in the U.S. to fix a software issue after multiple incidents of driving into closed freeway construction zones; it’s the second recall in a month, with freeway operations restricted while a remedy is developed, and service continues on surface streets as Waymo pursues international expansion and updates to its subscription model.

via CNBC|

#autonomous-vehicles #nhtsa #recall

technology23 days ago•5 min saved

Waymo Recalls 3,871 Robotaxis Over Risk of Driving Through Closed Construction Zones

Waymo is recalling 3,871 vehicles with its 5th Generation ADS due to a defect that can cause autonomous cars to enter or drive at highway speeds through freeway construction zones, caused by misprioritizing other hazards or failing to recognize closures. The recall is voluntary and followed incidents in Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area; Waymo has temporarily restricted freeway operations while a software remedy is developed, with a permanent fix to be delivered via an over-the-air update. This is Waymo’s fourth recall in around 28 months; no crashes or injuries have been reported, and the 6th Generation vehicles are not affected.

via WIRED|

#autonomous-vehicles #freeway-construction-zones #nhtsa

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Robotaxis accrue a bizarre lost-and-found catalog as Uber expands self-driving fleet

Uber’s Lost and Found Index now includes items left in robotaxis from its growing autonomous-car partners (Waymo, Motional, Avride) as self-driving trips rise, though they still account for under 1% of rides. Riders leave both common items—phones, wallets, keys, glasses—and odd leftovers like a bowling ball, a unicorn Beanie Baby, dentures, and designer items. Returns are handled via in-app support with a $15 courier fee or pickup at a depot, under Uber’s Autonomous Solutions program. Uber aims to expand AV trips to about 15 cities globally and become the largest robotaxi broker by 2029, with occasional mishaps like a Waymo luggage incident later covered by Waymo.

via The Verge|

#lost-and-found #robotaxis #self-driving

transportation1 month ago•15 min saved

Waymo Leads Texas Robotaxi Push as Tesla Lags

Texas DMV data show Waymo far ahead in robotaxi deployments: 577 Waymo vehicles versus 42 Tesla robotaxi, with Avride at 317 and Nuro at 47. The state also enacted a law requiring self-certification that AVs meet Level 4 SAE standards. Tesla’s Cybercab rollout is slow; Elon Musk had promised 500 robotaxis in Austin by 2025 but later trimmed to 60, and investors remain wary as Tesla pivots to supervised autonomy while rivals push ahead, despite safety recalls affecting the sector.

via Gizmodo|

#driverless-cars #robotaxis #tesla

technology1 month ago•5 min saved

Waymo debuts Ojai robotaxi with leaner 6th-gen Driver across three cities

Waymo has begun offering limited free rides in its new Ojai robotaxi—the first purpose-built Waymo vehicle—with the 6th-generation Driver across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. The Ojai emphasizes rider experience and accessibility, features a spacious rear cabin and easier entry, and uses a redesigned hardware stack that cuts sensors by about 42% while increasing capability, enabling snow operation and lowering unit costs to under $20,000. Waymo has now surpassed 20 million autonomous trips in 11 cities and plans broader geographic and production expansion from its Arizona factory to tens of thousands of units per year, while continuing to scale to additional markets beyond the initial three.

via Electrek|

#6th-gen-driver #autonomous-driving #ojai

technology1 month ago•6 min saved

Independence in a Driverless Car: Blind Riders Cheer Waymo's Solo Rides

Visually impaired riders in California describe Waymo’s driverless taxis as a rare source of solitude and control—being able to ride alone, choose music, and avoid human drivers—though higher costs, limited vehicle availability, and ongoing safety debates accompany the service as Waymo expands and partners with disability groups.

via The New York Times|

#autonomous-vehicles #disability #independence

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

Waymo pauses freeway robotaxi rides for safety software updates

Waymo has paused its freeway robotaxi operations in major U.S. cities to update software aimed at safer performance around construction zones and flooded roads. Street and off-highway services continue, while recalls related to software defects and flood-related incidents have prompted safety fixes. The company expects to resume freeway routes after the software updates, as it continues broader expansion.

via Los Angeles Times|

#autonomous-vehicles #flooding-safety #robotaxi