Amazon’s Zoox Issues Software Recall For 270 Robotaxis Following Crash

Topline Amazon-owned robotaxi company Zoox announced Tuesday it issued a software recall for 270 of its vehicles following an accident involving one of its units last month, in what was the latest rocky incident for the fledgling robotaxi industry. Zoox announced the recall Tuesday. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Key Facts Zoox said in a statement the recall was voluntary and that it completed the software update as part of the recall after an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi collided with a passenger vehicle in Las Vegas last month, resulting in no injuries and minor damage to both vehicles. The recall applied to 270 of Zoox’s driverless vehicles, according to multiple outlets, and the robotaxis are now back on the road after operations were completely paused following the recent accident. The software update addresses a flaw within the robotaxi’s driving system that could result in the inaccurate prediction of other cars’ movements, increasing “the risk of a crash,” according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts : We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here . What Issues Has Zoox Faced? Zoox, which Amazon bought for about $1.2 billion in 2020, has had a series of issues and accidents with its vehicles as it looks to expand beyond operations in San Francisco and Las Vegas. In March, the robotaxi company agreed to recall 258 vehicles over a software issue that caused unexpected braking. The recall came almost a year after a pair of Zoox vehicles made sudden, hard brakes that resulted in two separate crashes with motorcyclists. Both incidents did not involve the company’s robotaxi units, but instead, Toyota Highlanders equipped with an automated driving system from Zoox. The company has submitted 14 collision reports so far this year after filing 25 last year, according to California’s Department of Motor Vehicles, which notes manufacturers developing self-driving vehicles are required to report collisions involving property damage, bodily injury or death within 10 days of an incident. What To Watch For Zoox is slated to expand operations to Los Angeles following public testing locations it established in Miami and Austin, Texas, last year. The company does not yet provide rides to the general public and has been conducting test rides since 2023 after starting in San Francisco and Las Vegas. Las Vegas is slated to be Zoox’s first commercial market and rides for the general public could become accessible later this year, with San Francisco soon to follow, CNBC reported. Further Reading Why 2025 is set to be a crucial year for Amazon’s Zoox robotaxi unit (CNBC) San Francisco robotaxis: Amazon-owned company’s cars crashed 39 times (The San Francisco Standard) Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/05/06/amazon-robotaxi-firm-zoox-issues-recall-after-las-vegas-crash/