Amazon-owned Zoox issues a voluntary software recall affecting 105 robotaxis after one unoccupied vehicle drives into a fire scene in Las Vegas on June 20. According to Zoox, the emergency scene is obscured by heavy smoke, and the area had not been cordoned off with visible barriers. The robotaxi enters the smoke, brakes hard, and attempts to steer away while trying to avoid the situation. Regulators in the U.S. have recently warned autonomous vehicle companies about the risk of vehicles interfering with first responders, and the recall is announced in that broader context.
Multiple outlets report that Zoox responds with a software update intended to reduce the likelihood of the robotaxi misinterpreting heavy smoke and entering active emergency scenes. The affected vehicles are recalled through an update rather than physical replacement parts. The incident involves no passengers, since the vehicle is operating without occupants at the time. Zoox’s statement indicates the recall is tied specifically to how its system behaves in reduced-visibility conditions created by smoke during active emergencies.
