An unoccupied Zoox robotaxi’s collision in Las Vegas has triggered a full recall and renewed scrutiny of autonomous vehicle safety
At a Glance
- Zoox recalls 270 autonomous vehicles after April 8 crash in Las Vegas
- Collision caused by a software flaw in the vehicle’s perception system
- Vehicles misjudged the trajectory of other cars, increasing crash risk
- Affected fleet received an emergency software update in mid-April
- Driverless operations resumed after corrective action
Collision in the Crosshairs
On April 8, an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi collided with a human-driven vehicle in Las Vegas, prompting the recall of 270 autonomous units. According to Reuters, the robotaxi was traveling at more than 40 mph when it attempted to avoid a vehicle slowly entering the roadway. Expecting the car to proceed, the robotaxi slowed and veered, but the human driver unexpectedly stopped—leading to a crash despite Zoox’s last-second braking attempt.
Watch a report on the crash at Amazon’s Robotaxi Unit Zoox Recalls Vehicles After Las Vegas Crash.
Software Glitch Exposed
Investigators later confirmed the cause: a flaw in the Zoox perception system. The software misjudged the intent of perpendicular-moving vehicles, assuming they would keep going even when they didn’t. This caused the robotaxi to execute unsafe maneuvers in certain scenarios, according to Automotive World.
In a filing to U.S. safety regulators, Zoox disclosed that it deployed a corrective software patch between April 16 and 17 and reported the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 1. No injuries were reported, but the incident cast a shadow over the reliability of Zoox’s $1.3 billion autonomous project.
Safety Review and Recovery
Following the recall, Zoox paused its driverless testing programs for a comprehensive internal review. After deploying the software update, Zoox resumed operations on April 17, stressing its commitment to safety and transparent communication with regulators and the public.
The company said it continues to refine its systems in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Austin—three of the most prominent proving grounds for next-generation mobility.
The Broader Picture
As the driverless vehicle industry accelerates, incidents like this highlight the immense responsibility placed on developers. Despite technological advances, public trust remains fragile—and each software error can set the industry back by years.
The Zoox incident underscores a core truth of transportation innovation: progress must never outpace safety.
