Overview
- Waymo says it will deploy a software update after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration preliminary probe into a reported incident where a robotaxi passed a stopped school bus in Atlanta.
- Co‑CEO Tekedra Mawakana promotes a transparency‑first approach and challenges rivals to disclose fleet activity and safety performance, declining to name specific companies.
- Waymo cites internal analyses indicating its vehicles are five times safer than human drivers and 12 times safer for pedestrians, with self‑published reports showing 91% fewer serious‑injury crashes in its operating areas.
- The company targets 1 million weekly trips by the end of 2026 with planned launches in additional U.S. cities and London, alongside testing for freeway service and airport access in the Bay Area.
- Addressing public acceptance and operational risks, Mawakana says society will ultimately accept a robotaxi‑caused fatality if overall safety improves, notes frequent retesting and pullbacks, and condemns vandalism while working with law enforcement.