A California regulator said it is examining the incident that prompted Waymo vehicles to stall in San Francisco during a power outage on Saturday.
The California Public Utilities Commission told Business Insider on Monday that it was “aware of the incident and are looking into specifics,” without elaborating.
Waymo did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the agency’s statement.
During Saturday’s power outage in San Francisco, some Waymo robotaxis stopped in intersections and along busy roads, according to footage shared on social media. One clip on X showed at least five robotaxis clustered at a junction, clogging traffic.
The power outage, which hit about 130,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers, prompted Waymo to halt its ride-hailing services.
Waymo told Business Insider on Sunday that it had resumed its robotaxi service in the area.
“Yesterday’s power outage was a widespread event that caused gridlock across San Francisco, with non-functioning traffic signals and transit disruptions,” a spokesperson from Waymo said. “While the failure of the utility infrastructure was significant, we are committed to ensuring our technology adjusts to traffic flow during such events.”
The incident drew commentary from Elon Musk, who used the moment to promote Tesla’s autonomous ambitions. “Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage,” he wrote on X.
Owned by Alphabet, Waymo launched its autonomous ride-hailing service in Phoenix in 2018. It has expanded into other cities, including Austin and Atlanta, through a partnership with Uber.
In San Francisco, Waymo has been operating driverless vehicles since 2022, and it opened rides to the public via its app last year.
The rollout has not been without setbacks. In May, Waymo recalled the software affecting more than 1,200 vehicles after some ran into barriers such as chains or gates. A Waymo car killed a bodega cat in San Francisco, prompting backlash from residents, Business Insider reported last month.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The post California regulator reviews Waymo stalls during San Francisco power outage appeared first on Business Insider.
