Waymo restarts San Antonio service 5 months after flooding troubles

Waymo has restarted its robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, five months after one of its vehicles was swept away during a flash flood.

Multiple Waymo robotaxis got stuck during the heavy flooding in April. The vehicles slowed but did not stop as they approached waterlogged streets. Waymo ultimately issued a recall in May, and the company restricted its robotaxis from driving in areas with elevated risk of flooding.

Waymo briefly paused operations around the same time in other cities in Texas but has since resumed those services. The company is now offering paid rides in 15 U.S. cities.

The resumed service in San Antonio will involve dozens of vehicles covering a 60-mile area that includes downtown and the San Antonio International Airport, according to the San Antonio Express-News, which was first to report on Waymo starting back up. Waymo told the paper that it has made changes to its software that will help the robotaxis better detect and avoid standing water in the future.