Amazon's autonomous vehicle company, Zoox, has disclosed that it has rolled out a software update to its fleet of 105 test vehicles. Previously, a robotaxi with no passengers approached a fire emergency site obscured by thick smoke; the vehicle applied an abrupt brake and stopped while attempting to maneuver around it, after which a remote operator reversed the vehicle away from the scene.
June event triggered recall
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated in the recall documentation that the incident occurred on June 20. At the time, there was heavy smoke at the scene, obscuring a fire area under management, and no traffic cones had been placed around the area. The Zoox vehicle, upon approaching, failed to promptly recognize the situation, applied sudden brakes, and attempted to steer away before coming to a stop nearby.
Zoox informed regulators that it subsequently launched an investigation to determine the cause of the issue and to check for any similar occurrences. The company stated that this was its first encounter with such an incident and that no injuries related to the issue have been identified to date.
Regulators have recently issued concentrated statements.
One week before this recall, NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison sent letters to multiple autonomous driving companies, urging them not to impede emergency responders and firefighters from performing their duties. He stated that if autonomous systems cannot recognize and properly respond to emergency situations, it indicates a deficiency in their functionality—such scenarios are not uncommon.
Over the past year, U.S. regulators have consistently focused on interactions between autonomous vehicles and emergency responders. Previously, during Waymo’s expansion into multiple cities, it was repeatedly reported that on-site personnel had to manually move vehicles to clear emergency access routes.
Commercialization still awaits regulatory approval.
Zoox stated that the company communicated with the NHTSA multiple times at the end of June and beginning of July regarding the severity, frequency, and causes of the incidents, and decided to initiate the recall on July 7, the day before the regulator issued a public letter.
This is not the first time Zoox has issued a recall due to software issues. In March 2025, the company voluntarily updated its software over sudden braking concerns; in May of the same year, it issued two additional recalls following incidents involving collisions with passenger vehicles and electric scooters.
- This software update covers 105 vehicles.
- The triggering event occurred on June 20.
- The vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the incident.
Additional information: Zoox is offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco. Due to its vehicles lacking steering wheels and pedals, official commercial operations still require an exemption from federal motor vehicle safety standards.