California DMV suspends Cruise LLC driverless and deployment permits
The California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Cruise LLC's autonomous vehicle deployment and driverless testing permits, saying the vehicles were not safe for public operation and that Cruise had misrepresented safety information. The suspension took effect immediately under California regulations. Cruise may apply to reinstate the permits once it satisfies the department's requirements. Its permit for testing with a safety driver was not affected.
- Company involved
- Cruise LLC
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise alleged to rely on human operators for autonomous driving
A New York Times article alleged that Cruise's autonomous vehicles rely on human operators to achieve autonomous driving, with 1.5 workers per vehicle intervening every 2.5 to five miles. Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt responded on Hacker News, stating that remote assistance is used 2-4% of the time and that many sessions are resolved by the vehicle itself. The company declined an interview request from the NYT.
- Company involved
- Cruise
- AI system involved
- Cruise AV
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Unitree humanoid robot thrashes arms and legs during demo in China
Footage shows a Unitree humanoid robot thrashing its arms and legs during a demonstration in a Chinese factory, with handlers backing away. The robot, believed to be the H1 model, was tethered at the head, which experts suggest may have interfered with its balance-correction systems. No injuries were reported. Unitree has not responded to the video.
- Company involved
- Unitree
- AI system involved
- H1
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo driverless car hits bicyclist in San Francisco intersection
On 6 February 2024, a Waymo driverless car collided with a bicyclist at a four-way intersection in San Francisco. The cyclist was obscured by a truck and the vehicle braked but could not stop in time. The cyclist sustained minor scratches and left the scene. Waymo stated it is contacting relevant authorities.
- Company involved
- Waymo
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Driver relying on "smart driving" on highway crashes after system suddenly disengages near truck
司机依赖“智驾 ”跑高速，逼近大货车时“智驾”突然退出引发车祸 - 手机新浪网
A driver was using a smart driving system on an expressway. As the vehicle approached a large truck, the system unexpectedly disengaged, leading to a crash.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Starship delivery robots blocked wheelchair users at University of Pittsburgh
In October 2019, Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robots blocked wheelchair users on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Doctoral student Emily Ackerman reported that a robot blocked the only accessible sidewalk entrance, trapping her near traffic. Another wheelchair user, Alisa Grishman, had a similar incident earlier that month. The university and Starship paused the robot program for review.
- Company involved
- Starship Technologies
- AI system involved
- Starship delivery robot
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo self-driving car hits child near Santa Monica school, US opens probe
A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child crossing the street near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, on 23 January 2026, during school drop-off hours. The child sustained minor injuries. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened investigations into the incident. Waymo stated that the child emerged suddenly from behind a double-parked SUV and that the vehicle braked, reducing speed from 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact, and that a computer model suggested a human driver would have also hit the child.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Hello robotaxi crash injures pedestrians in Zhuzhou, China
A Hello Inc. robotaxi struck and injured two pedestrians in Zhuzhou, China, on or around December 5, 2025. Footage showed bystanders and police lifting the vehicle to free a person trapped underneath. Hello has suspended autonomous-driving operations in Zhuzhou. Local police have not yet determined fault, and Hello has not commented. The crash follows a prior incident where a Hello robotaxi allegedly failed to stop after a collision.
- Company involved
- Hello Inc.
- AI system involved
- Hello Autonomous Driving
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Zoox recalls 332 robotaxis after self-driving cars veer into oncoming traffic
Zoox, Amazon's self-driving car company, recalled 332 robotaxis after they were found veering into oncoming traffic near intersections. The issue was first noticed in August 2025 when a car took a wide right turn crossing the center line. Zoox said no crashes or injuries occurred and fixed the problem with a software update. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the recall and is in ongoing discussions with Zoox.
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox robotaxis
6 source articles · read the reporting →
NHTSA investigation PE24016: Unexpected ADS behavior
Waymo's automated driving system exhibited unexpected behavior during driving.
- Company involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Cruise Self-Driving Car Rear-Ended by Human-Driven Cruise Vehicle in San Francisco
On 11 June 2018, a self-driving Cruise Chevrolet Bolt was rear-ended by another Cruise vehicle driven by a human employee on Bryant Street in San Francisco. The collision caused only minor scuffs and no injuries. Cruise reported the incident to the California DMV as required. The incident highlights the challenges of autonomous vehicles interacting with human drivers.
- Company involved
- Cruise
2 source articles · read the reporting →
AI-powered tram crashes into pedestrians in St Petersburg test run
An AI-powered 'Smart Tram' on a test run in St Petersburg, Russia, crashed into pedestrians after its AI system turned off and brakes failed. The driver, who was present, attempted to use emergency brakes but they did not fully work. Several people were injured, including a 45-year-old woman trapped under the tram. The city authorities have launched an investigation and a criminal case has been opened.
- Company involved
- St Petersburg city authorities
- AI system involved
- Smart Tram
1 source article · read the reporting →
Starship delivery robot drives into planter and down stairs at UCLA
A Starship Technologies delivery robot operating autonomously at UCLA fell into a planter after its wheels slipped off a path edge. Bystanders pulled it free, but the robot turned back towards the planter before being pushed clear. A remote human operator then took control, but the robot subsequently drove down a flight of stairs and later struck a scooter due to a sensor blind spot.
- Company involved
- Starship Technologies
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla Model 3 crash, 1 killed, Autopilot verified: Tesla collides with pickup
The vehicle's Autopilot system drove into oncoming traffic, causing a collision that killed the driver and injured two passengers in another vehicle.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tesla Model 3 crash, 1 killed, Autopilot verified: Tesla falls from height
The vehicle drove off the road and fell from a height, killing the driver.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tesla Model Y crash, 1 killed, Autopilot verified: Pedestrian hit on shoulder
A Tesla Model Y struck and killed a pedestrian changing a tire on the shoulder of a highway.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
1 source article · read the reporting →
Beep automated bus rear-ended by Tesla in Washington D.C.
An automated bus operated by Beep was rear-ended by a Tesla driver making an illegal lane change in Washington D.C. on 18 January 2026. The bus, part of a pilot programme with the U.S. Department of Transportation, had a human backup driver and sustained minor cosmetic damage. Service was temporarily paused but resumed after a review found the bus operated appropriately. No police were called and the incident was not reported to NHTSA as the damage was under $1,000 and the other driver was at fault.
- Company involved
- Beep
- AI system involved
- Beep automated bus
2 source articles · read the reporting →
San Francisco officials complain of robotaxi interference with emergency responders
San Francisco's fire chief and police union have complained that Waymo and Cruise robotaxis are interfering with emergency responders, including driving into active scenes and blocking fire trucks. The fire chief says it is only a matter of time before a catastrophic injury or death occurs. The police union asked the California Public Utilities Commission to postpone a vote on expanding robotaxi services. The companies say they are working with officials and that most encounters are without issue.
- Company involved
- Waymo and Cruise
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Crash into Backwards-Towed Pickup in Phoenix
On 11 December 2023, two Waymo autonomous vehicles collided with a pickup truck being towed backwards in Phoenix, Arizona. The vehicles were operating without passengers and sustained minor damage, with no injuries reported. Waymo attributed the crashes to a software error that mispredicted the towed vehicle's motion and subsequently deployed a fix. The company filed a voluntary recall report with the NHTSA.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo Driver
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Xiaomi SU7 fatal crash in Chengdu raises EV safety concerns
A Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle crashed in Chengdu, China, and caught fire. Bystanders were unable to open the electronic door handles to rescue an occupant, and a 31-year-old male driver died. The incident follows an earlier fatal SU7 crash that raised questions about the vehicle's smart driving features, and has intensified scrutiny on electronic door handle safety.
- Company involved
- Xiaomi
- AI system involved
- SU7
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Proactively Report to Police After Discovering Passenger Hiding a Gun
قامت سيارات الأجرة ذاتية القيادة من شركة Waymo بإبلاغ الشرطة بشكل استباقي بعد اكتشافها أن أحد الركاب كان يخفي مسدساً.…
A Waymo self-driving taxi in San Francisco detected two teenage passengers carrying an unidentified AR-15 rifle loaded with ammunition. The vehicle automatically stopped and alerted police, leading to the arrest of the two teenagers. Waymo stated that its system can identify violations of its terms of service, including carrying weapons, and will proactively notify police.
- Company involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Woman Blindly Trusts Driver Assistance, Rear-Ends Lane-Changing Bus on Highway
女子轻信辅助驾驶放任不管 高速上直接追尾变道大巴车 - 驱动之家
On August 28, on the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, a woman driving an SUV with driver assistance engaged rear-ended a bus that suddenly changed lanes. She assumed the system would brake automatically and took no action. The bus driver was found at fault for the lane change, but police warned against over-reliance on driver assistance.
1 source article · read the reporting →
NHTSA investigation PE24015: Rear-end Collisions Involving Zoox Vehicles
Automated driving system controlled vehicle braking and acceleration, leading to rear-end collisions with other road users
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox vehicle
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tesla Model 3 crash, 1 killed, Autopilot verified: Multi-event collision with truck on highway
The Tesla Model 3, with Autopilot possibly engaged, struck an overturned semi-truck and a pedestrian, killing the driver and injuring the pedestrian.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
1 source article · read the reporting →
