Waymo has temporarily suspended all its robotaxi rides on freeways across the United States to address safety concerns. The Alphabet subsidiary stated the pause is solely for integrating software updates aimed at improving performance around construction zones and flooded roads. Previously, freeway rides were available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami.
Reason for the Pause
The company emphasized that street-level and other off-highway Waymo services will continue uninterrupted. In a statement to Reuters, a Waymo spokesperson said: "We are committed to being good neighbors for our riders and our communities. As part of that commitment, we make proactive decisions including temporarily pausing aspects of our service. We know riders count on us to get around, and we appreciate their patience as we work to get them where they're going safely and reliably."
Challenges with Freeway Operations
While freeway driving involves fewer variables than city streets—such as pedestrians and intersections—the high speeds at which vehicles operate present unique difficulties. Waymo also paused its operations in Atlanta after a robotaxi stopped in flood water on a recent Wednesday.
Recent Recalls and Incidents
These suspensions follow Waymo's recall of 3,800 vehicles earlier this month due to a software defect that caused some robotaxis to drive into flooded roadways. The company has faced multiple recalls: in 2025, over 1,200 cars were recalled for a software defect leading to minor crashes. Earlier this year, Waymo drew scrutiny after a vehicle struck a child outside a school in Santa Monica, California, and ran over a cat in San Francisco.
Expansion Plans and Competition
Despite these setbacks, Waymo continues to expand aggressively. The company plans to launch services in several new cities globally, including London in September 2026. These expansions aim to outpace competitors like Tesla and Zoox, which have not yet reached Waymo's scale. Waymo claims to have driven over 170 million autonomous miles, with 13 times fewer injury-causing collisions than human drivers on their routes.
Fleet and Growth
Waymo currently provides half a million trips per week, with a target of surpassing one million by the end of 2026. The company initially used Chrysler Pacifica minivans, later transitioning to Jaguar I-Pace SUVs. Recently, they have been testing the Chinese Zeekr minivan and are integrating Hyundai IONIQ 5s into their fleet. Waymo did not attribute the latest recall to a specific incident but has paused operations in Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia to implement software changes.
