Zoox recalls self-driving cars because they may not detect smoke

Amazon’s autonomous vehicle unit Zoox said it will recall 105 self-driving vehicles after identifying a safety issue in which the cars may fail to detect heavy smoke, potentially hindering emergency responders. The recall adds to regulatory scrutiny on driverless car operators, coming shortly after the U.S. auto safety chief warned companies to quickly address cases where autonomous vehicles interfere with police and first responders. The news is negative for Zoox’s safety profile and could pressure Amazon’s broader autonomous mobility ambitions, though the direct financial impact appears limited given the small size of the recall. It may nonetheless raise compliance, testing, and deployment concerns for the self-driving sector.