Waymo has officially relaunched its robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, marking the end of a five-month suspension triggered by severe weather challenges. The company had halted operations in April after heavy rains caused multiple autonomous vehicles to become stranded or swept away during flash floods.
The incident prompted Waymo to issue a recall in May, leading to restrictions on driving in areas with high flood risks. While the company briefly paused services in other Texas cities as well, it has since resumed operations there. Currently, Waymo offers paid rides to customers in 15 U.S. cities.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, which first reported the restart, the renewed service will utilize dozens of vehicles operating within a 60-mile radius. This coverage area includes downtown San Antonio and the city’s international airport.
In response to the earlier safety concerns, Waymo confirmed that it has implemented software updates designed to improve the vehicles’ ability to detect and navigate around standing water, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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