Amazon’s self-driving robotaxi unit Zoox under investigation by US after 2 rear-end crashes
DETROIT– Amazon’s self-driving robotaxi unit is under investigation by the US government’s highway safety agency after two of its vehicles suddenly braked and were hit from behind by motorcyclists.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents on its website Monday that it will evaluate the automated driving system developed by Zoox.
Both accidents happened during the day, with the motorcyclists suffering minor injuries. In both cases, the agency confirmed that each of the Amazon vehicles was operating in autonomous mode leading up to the crashes.
The agency said the investigation will focus on the performance of the company’s automated driving system during the crashes, and how it behaves at crosswalks around pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
A message seeking comment from Zoox was left early Monday.
Zoox reported the accidents under an order to automated vehicle companies issued in 2021.
Amazon acquired Zoox in June 2020 for a price that analysts estimated at more than $1 billion. In 2023, the Foster City, California, company said one of its funky-looking four-person shuttles autonomously transported workers on public roads on a one-mile (1.6 kilometer) route between two Zoox buildings.
The company later planned to launch a shuttle service exclusively for its employees. Analysts say they expect Amazon to use the Zoox system for autonomous deliveries.
Zoox vehicles have no steering wheel or pedals. The carriage-style interior of the vehicle has two sofas that face each other. It is just under 3.7 meters long, about a third of a meter shorter than a standard Mini Cooper and can reach a speed of up to 56 kilometers per hour.
Zoox was already under investigation by NHTSA. In March 2022, the agency began investigating the company’s certification that its vehicle met federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The agency said at the time that it would investigate whether Zoox used its own testing procedures to determine that certain federal standards did not apply because of the robotaxi’s unique configuration.