Welcome to the Daily 5 report for Wednesday, May 14.
Today saw two notable recalls from the automotive industry in the United States: Google’s self-driving technology company Waymo issued a recall for 1,200 vehicles, while Ford Motor Company announced a recall of 273,000 SUVs. Both recalls reported no injuries, yet there’s little doubt about which will dominate the news cycle.
Waymo’s recall, though much smaller in scale, involves its self-driving vehicles and centers on a software update designed to prevent collisions with roadside barriers such as chains and gates. Ford’s recall, on the other hand, addresses a potential brake malfunction in its 2022–2024 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models. Despite affecting far more vehicles, Ford’s recall is less likely to grab headlines.
This trend highlights how the news media prioritizes the new and the unusual. The emergence of self-driving technology makes Waymo’s software recall inherently more newsworthy, reflecting society’s curiosity and concern over the arrival of autonomous vehicles on public roads.
Waymo’s recall also underlines ongoing questions about public acceptance of self-driving cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still investigating several incidents involving Waymo vehicles, some of which involved collisions with clearly visible objects. Waymo says the issue has been resolved with its latest sixth-generation automated driving software, which is now in use across its fleet.
“Waymo provides more than 250,000 paid trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the U.S.,” the company stated, adding that its record shows a reduction in injuries over millions of autonomous miles.
Elsewhere in the industry, Nissan is making moves in North America. Christian Meunier’s return as chairman of the Americas comes with a promise to sharpen the company’s focus, increase efficiency, and reinforce strategies that work. One of the more noteworthy developments: Nissan is reportedly considering moving Sentra sedan production from Mexico to the United States, potentially avoiding a steep 25 percent import tariff on one of its top-selling models.
That’s a wrap for today’s highlights. Stay tuned for more developments shaping the future of mobility and the automotive industry.
