The source says that Waymo’s cars made in China pose a national security risk
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Self-driving car company Waymo is facing increasing scrutiny as critics raise concerns about passenger safety and the risk of spying.
Waymo recently issued a recall for 3,791 vehicles after one of its traffic lights failed to come to a complete stop after encountering flooding conditions on the highway, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This agency succeeded in withdrawing these vehicles on May 11, explaining the problems of the vehicles.
“Waymo provides more than half a million trips each week in some of the most challenging driving environments across the US, and safety is our number one priority. We have identified an area for improvement regarding the inevitable flooded lanes on high-speed highways, and have made the decision to file a voluntary recall with NHTSA related to this situation,” said a spokesperson for Fox News Digital.
“We are working to implement additional safety measures and make mitigations, including refining our severe weather operations during periods of heavy rain, reducing access to areas where flooding may occur.”
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Waymo is facing increased scrutiny over its relationship with the Chinese automaker. (Sara Diggins/The Austin American-Statesman/Getty Images)
NHTSA’s letter says Waymo was recalling “certain 5th and 6th Generation Automated Driving Systems (ADS), as “the software may allow the vehicle to slow down and enter standing water on high-speed roads.” The agency warned that robots entering a flooded road could cause a loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
“They’re testing these in real-life situations, and they’re putting American lives at risk. When you’re talking about pedestrians, when you’re talking about these flooding issues, you know, if you’re one of these Waymos, you’re totally dependent on whatever AI system they’ve developed to be able to navigate you safely around Digital News,” a source told Fox News.
Last month, Waymo temporarily suspended operations in San Antonio after one of its vehicles entered a flooded road and washed away, KTBC reported at the time, citing a Waymo spokesperson. The vehicle involved in the incident was unoccupied.
“They do not know how to deal with these situations, they are not prepared for them, they have not been tested and they are doing real life research on the streets of America,” said the source.
Waymo announced a recall of 3,791 vehicles after an unoccupied vehicle entered a flooded road. (Andrej Sokolow/photo alliance via Getty Images)
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As a temporary solution, Waymo, which operates thousands of vehicles across the US, is making changes to vehicle operations to improve weather-related issues and updating its maps, according to NHTSA. The agency said all vehicles had received the update on April 20.
A source told Fox News Digital that Waymo’s vehicles pose risks beyond physical injury to passengers and pedestrians; the company may pose threats to national security. The Waymo Ojai, the source pointed out, is manufactured by Chinese automaker Zeekr.
Waymo formed a partnership with Zeekr in 2021, one year before the company showed off a robot based on Zeekr’s SEA-M version, TechCrunch reported. The store added that the prototype does not have a steering wheel, something Waymo Ojai has.
“There is no reason not to think that with these cars that are now being rushed to market in the big cities of America that the electronic devices with cameras in them all, all of them are noisy, they are being recorded all the time, they cannot be deceived in other countries,” the source told Fox News Digital.
The source said the Trump administration “is aware of the dangers of foreign espionage.”
In response to questions about the company’s relationship with Chinese automaker Zeekr, a Waymo spokesperson said, “The technology that collects data and makes our cars autonomous — software, sensors, and computer systems — was developed and installed by Waymo in America.”
“Waymo strongly supports the BIS Department of Commerce’s connected vehicle legislation, which addresses national security risks from foreign AV technologies, including both software and hardware. Waymo is committed to advancing our – and America’s – leadership in the development and implementation of critical autonomous driving technologies,” the spokesperson added.
A source close to the Trump administration expressed concern that Waymo could pose a national security threat. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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The scrutiny affecting Waymo’s foreign relations comes as the Trump administration is intensifying its focus on China-linked technology and supply chains during President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing.
Whether the incidents involving Waymo’s vehicles prompt further regulatory action remains to be seen, but they have already raised questions about whether autonomous technology is ready for real-world conditions, and how China-linked supply chains could fuel its proliferation.
Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu contributed to this report.
