Waymo Recalls Self-Driving Vehicles Amid Safety Concerns

Waymo, the autonomous driving division of Alphabet, has issued a recall for over 1,200 self-driving vehicles due to a series of low-speed collisions with stationary objects such as gates and chains. This information became public through recent regulatory filings, coinciding with ongoing investigations by U.S. authorities into the safety of Waymo’s driverless technology.

Details of the Recall

The recall involves 1,212 vehicles that utilise Waymo’s fifth-generation software. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported at least 22 instances where Waymo’s robotaxis collided with objects that a human driver would typically avoid. Fortunately, none of these incidents resulted in injuries, and Waymo indicated that a software update was rolled out late last year to rectify the situation.

The company noted, “All affected vehicles were updated by December 26, 2024,” marking this as their third software-related recall within a year.

Waymo’s fleet has since upgraded to a sixth-generation system, managing over 1,500 driverless vehicles in cities such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, and San Francisco, providing more than 250,000 paid rides each week.

Will This Technology Thrive in India?

The situation with Waymo raises an important question: Are the roads in India prepared for self-driving cars? While the answer is multifaceted, it highlights both substantial opportunities and considerable obstacles.

India’s autonomous vehicle market is expected to soar from USD 2.6 billion in 2024 to over USD 23 billion by 2033. This growth is fuelled by urbanisation, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and smart mobility initiatives. Nonetheless, the realities on the ground significantly differ from those found in U.S. cities such as San Francisco or Phoenix.

Challenges in Indian Infrastructure

Many Indian roads lack clear lane markings, standardised signage, and dependable high-definition mapping—all essential for autonomous vehicle systems to operate safely. Furthermore, inconsistent road quality, erratic traffic behaviour, and a high count of two-wheelers and jaywalkers create one of the most challenging environments for the deployment of autonomous vehicles.

The regulatory landscape also plays a crucial role. Although the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 2019 allows for pilot testing, India currently lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework to address liability, data privacy, insurance, and autonomous vehicle certification.

The Need for Technological Advancements

India is also yet to establish the necessary technology infrastructure for widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles. These vehicles require constant, high-speed data transmission and robust communication between vehicles and infrastructure, which are largely underdeveloped in most Indian cities.

Despite these challenges, local innovation is progressing. The Bengaluru-based startup Minus Zero is creating an “Android for self-driving cars,” aimed at helping autonomous vehicles navigate complex environments without solely depending on LiDAR or GPS. Additionally, global interest is increasing; Uber is reportedly planning to launch driverless taxis in India in collaboration with Waymo.

Potential Impact of Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles hold great promise for transforming transportation in India. The country experienced approximately 1.68 lakh road fatalities in 2022, with speeding implicated in nearly 70% of these cases. Properly implemented, autonomous vehicles could potentially lower traffic-related deaths by over 90%, according to global estimates. When combined with electric vehicle initiatives, autonomous cars could reduce harmful emissions by up to 60%.

Yet, despite this potential, practical deployment remains a distant goal. Experts suggest that while autonomous vehicles may eventually find roles in specific areas such as closed-campus logistics or controlled shuttle routes, widespread consumer acceptance on public roads is likely at least a decade away.