Zoox issues software recall over lane crossings

Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has issued a voluntary software recall affecting 332 vehicles due to concerns that its self-driving system caused vehicles to cross center lane lines near intersections or block crosswalks. Although no collisions have been reported, Zoox acknowledged in its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) filing that these behaviors could increase crash risk. The issues included robotaxis stopping in crosswalks at red lights and making wide turns that partially entered opposing lanes. The problem was first identified on August 26, and Zoox found 62 similar instances through December 5. The company updated its software twice—in November and mid-December—to address these problems and is in ongoing discussions with NHTSA regarding their frequency and severity. The recall covers Zoox vehicles operating on public roads between March 13 and December 18. Zoox emphasized transparency and safety as reasons for the recall, stating it continually refines its technology. This is not the first software recall for Zoox this year;