Robotaxi Nightmare: Drivers Report Toxic Gas!

Hustler Words – Autonomous vehicle innovator Zoox has initiated a temporary halt to its test fleet operations in Atlanta, following a series of alarming reports detailing potential toxic gas exposure among its safety drivers. The incidents, which unfolded throughout the previous month, saw employees experiencing symptoms consistent with inhalation of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or hydrogen sulfide while operating the company’s test vehicles. This critical safety concern prompted a formal complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which subsequently launched an investigation into the matter, as revealed by Hustler Words.

OSHA documents reviewed by Hustler Words indicate that as many as 40 workers may have been subjected to these gases. However, the Amazon-owned firm asserts a lower figure, identifying 28 employees who rode in six specific test vehicles that emitted an "unexplained odor." Disturbingly, one contractor described being instructed to resume duties in a different vehicle after reporting vomiting and other exposure symptoms, only to experience a second bout of illness later that same day. Jay Davis, a contractor who fell ill in mid-August and filed the OSHA grievance, expressed his frustration: "They made us go right back in the field after we said we were throwing up."

Reports of symptoms and peculiar smells were consistent throughout August, culminating in a 911 call for a sick worker on August 22. Since then, Zoox’s facility in northwest Atlanta has operated at limited capacity, with the potentially affected test vehicles quarantined as the company conducted its internal investigation. It is important to note that Zoox’s purpose-built, all-electric robotaxis, which are central to its broader deployment strategy, are not implicated in these incidents.

While the precise gas responsible remains under scrutiny, Davis and two other affected workers were informed at the emergency room that their symptoms were consistent with carbon monoxide exposure. The OSHA complaint also cited possible carbon dioxide (CO2) exposure. In a September 10 letter to OSHA, Zoox detailed its examination of test vehicles for CO2 and the replacement of 12-volt batteries. Damaged batteries can produce hydrogen sulfide gas, known for its "rotten egg" smell—a scent some employees reported noticing in the vehicles. Zoox later clarified to Hustler Words that its investigation detected only CO2 in the impacted vehicles and no evidence of carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulfide. The company has since committed to installing CO2 monitors, designed to also detect other gases, in its test fleet. OSHA has since closed its inquiry.

A Zoox spokesperson emphasized to Hustler Words, "The safety and well-being of our Zoox test fleet operators is our primary concern in this situation. We are taking ongoing, appropriate, and cautious actions to investigate the reported events as necessary and support any needs from our operators. While we investigate these reports thoroughly, we have ceased operations of our test vehicles in this market."

These incidents underscore a known hazard associated with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles: the potential for exhaust gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to infiltrate the cabin, particularly in cases of exhaust system leaks or prolonged idling in enclosed spaces. Zoox’s test fleet, uniquely among major robotaxi developers such as Waymo and Tesla which predominantly utilize electric vehicles, relies on modified Highlander SUVs equipped with ICEs. These modifications, which include the integration of sensors and autonomy computers, can inadvertently compromise a vehicle’s sealing integrity, increasing the risk of gas intrusion—a phenomenon observed in previous investigations involving modified police vehicles. Zoox maintains it does not alter the ventilation systems but keeps its test vehicles running for extended periods for sensor calibration, employing exhaust-capture systems at its indoor depots to mitigate gas buildup.

Jay Davis recounted the August 14 incident, where he and three colleagues, engaged in training, experienced an unsettling quietness in their SUV. One colleague inquired if others felt "weird." During their scheduled break, one worker began vomiting, and all felt lightheaded. Despite reporting these severe symptoms, they were reportedly instructed to continue their shift in a different test vehicle. Later that afternoon, Davis himself became ill, vomiting after eating. He contacted his third-party contractor, HireArt, and sought medical attention, where his symptoms were deemed consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning, even though no elevated CO levels were detected in his system. In the days following their August 14 ordeal, the four affected employees were subjected to what Zoox described as a "random drug test."

This safety crisis emerges amidst Zoox’s aggressive expansion into new urban centers, a growth strategy that, as previously reported by Hustler Words, has seen contractors sustain injuries from sudden braking and swerving in test vehicles—a challenge also documented by industry leader Waymo. The decision by three other current and former employees to speak anonymously to Hustler Words highlights persistent fears of potential retaliation within the company.