Waymo to issue software recall over how robotaxis behave around school buses

Waymo plans to voluntarily issue a software recall with federal safety regulators related to how its robotaxis operate around school buses, the Alphabet-owned company told TechCrunch.

The voluntary software recall will be filed early next week, according to the company.

Waymo’s decision follows increased scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and criticism by officials in Atlanta and Austin over how its robotaxis perform around school buses.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened its initial investigation into Waymo in October after seeing footage of its autonomous vehicle maneuvering around a stopped school bus — with its stop sign extended and lights flashing — that was unloading kids in Atlanta. In that incident, a Waymo robotaxi crossed perp