Core Points - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested additional information from Waymo regarding its self-driving system after reports of illegal maneuvers around school buses [1][2] - Waymo's robotaxis have been reported to illegally pass school buses 19 times since the start of the 2025-26 school year, raising safety concerns [5][10] - Waymo claims that its software updates have improved safety, reporting a fivefold reduction in injury-related crashes compared to human drivers [6][8] Regulatory Actions - NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened an investigation into Waymo in October after observing footage of a robotaxi maneuvering around a stopped school bus [3] - A letter from NHTSA to Waymo requested detailed information about its fifth-generation self-driving system and operations [2] - The Austin School District has requested that Waymo cease operations during peak school hours until further software updates are completed [9][10] Company Response - Waymo stated that the bus was partially blocking the driveway, which affected the robotaxi's visibility of the stop sign and flashing lights [4] - The company has issued software updates aimed at improving performance and has committed to continuous improvement [8] - Waymo maintains that its robotaxis are safer than human drivers, citing data on reduced injury crashes [6][8]

Core Points - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary investigation into approximately 2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles due to reports of potential violations of traffic safety laws concerning stopped school buses [1][5] - The investigation follows a media report detailing an incident where a Waymo autonomous vehicle failed to stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm deployed [2][3] - Waymo has acknowledged the incident and stated that it has already implemented improvements for stopping at school buses, with further software updates planned [3][4] Company Overview - Waymo operates a fleet of over 1,500 robotaxis in major U.S. cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin [4] - The company is owned by Alphabet and has plans for international expansion, with upcoming launches in cities such as Tokyo and London [6] Technology and Safety - The vehicle involved in the incident was equipped with Waymo's fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS) and was operating without a human safety driver at the time [3][7] - The company emphasizes that driving safely around children is a top priority, and the vehicle's approach to the school bus was due to an angle that obscured the visibility of the flashing lights and stop sign [3]

Core Insights - The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into approximately 2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles due to reports of unsafe behavior from the robotaxis [1] Group 1 - The investigation was prompted by multiple reports indicating that Waymo's robotaxis exhibited unsafe driving practices [1] - The number of vehicles under investigation is around 2,000, highlighting the scale of the concern [1]

Core Viewpoint - Waymo has issued a software recall for its robotaxi fleet due to incidents involving collisions with objects, highlighting ongoing safety concerns and regulatory scrutiny [1][2][4]. Group 1: Recall Details - Waymo recalled approximately 1,212 vehicles after several incidents where robotaxis collided with objects like gates and chains [1]. - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an inquiry into Waymo's fifth-generation driver after receiving 22 incident reports, with the investigation still ongoing [2]. - The incidents occurred between December 2022 and April 2024, with no reported injuries [2]. Group 2: Software Updates and Previous Recalls - Waymo reported nine additional minor collisions with similar barriers between February 2024 and December 2024, and was already working on a software update when the inquiry began [3]. - A software update was fully rolled out for the entire fleet by December 2024, which does not affect current operations [3]. - Previous recalls included a voluntary recall of over 400 vehicles in February 2024 and another for more than 670 cars in June 2024, both involving software updates [5]. Group 3: Safety Performance - Waymo claims its robotaxis are safer than human drivers, with data indicating an 81% reduction in injury-causing crashes compared to the average human driver over millions of miles driven in Phoenix and San Francisco [6]. - The company emphasizes its commitment to high safety standards and collaboration with NHTSA to enhance road safety [4].

Group 1 - Waymo's robotaxis in Austin are outperforming human drivers, completing more trips per day than over 99% of them, with approximately 100 vehicles currently in operation [1] - Uber plans to scale the autonomous fleet in Austin to "hundreds" of Waymo vehicles and will launch Waymo's robotaxis on the Uber app in Atlanta later this year [2] - Competition is expected from Tesla, which is set to launch its own robotaxi service in Austin in June, raising concerns among Uber drivers about the long-term impact on their earnings [3] Group 2 - Uber has partnered with 18 autonomous vehicle companies, including Waymo and Volkswagen, to offer their vehicles on the Uber app, indicating a strategic shift from building its own robotaxis [4] - Uber's first-quarter earnings report showed revenue of $42.8 billion, which fell short of Wall Street's expectations of $43.1 billion, leading to a nearly 5% drop in stock price [5]