Amazon's autonomous vehicle subsidiary Zoox has temporarily suspended operations at its Atlanta test depot after several employees reported symptoms consistent with toxic gas exposure. Workers at the facility reported experiencing headaches, nausea, and respiratory irritation, prompting an immediate investigation.
Zoox confirmed the fleet shutdown in a statement, saying the company is working with local environmental and safety authorities to determine the cause of the exposure. The Atlanta depot serves as the primary maintenance and charging hub for Zoox's robotaxi fleet in the city.
The incident marks the latest safety concern for the autonomous vehicle industry, which has faced increasing scrutiny over the operational safety of its fleet management facilities. While the vehicles themselves operate autonomously, human workers are still required to maintain, clean, and charge the vehicles at depot facilities.
Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for approximately $1.2 billion and has since expanded its testing operations to multiple US cities. The Atlanta deployment was part of the company's broader push to commercialize its robotaxi service.
No serious injuries have been reported, and Zoox stated that affected employees have received medical attention. The company said it would resume operations once the source of the gas exposure is identified and remediated.
