Amazon’s Zoox Recall Highlights Autonomous Vehicle Risks as Stock Edges Higher

Amazon's self-driving unit Zoox has recalled 332 autonomous vehicles in the U.S. after discovering a software bug that could cause unintended stops or lane departures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration flagged the issue as potentially increasing collision risks in vehicles that lack manual controls.

Despite the recall, Amazon shares gained nearly 1% in early trading. The market's muted reaction suggests investors view this as a temporary setback rather than a fundamental challenge to Amazon's mobility ambitions. Autonomous vehicle operators now face stricter NHTSA reporting requirements for crashes within 24 hours of occurrence.

Zoox's over-the-air update system exemplifies the double-edged nature of software-defined vehicles. While enabling rapid fixes, such systems can inadvertently introduce new vulnerabilities even as they resolve existing issues. The incident underscores the growing pains of an industry transitioning from human drivers to algorithmic navigation.