Waymo Covers Shipping After Robotaxi Drives Off With 1 Passenger’s Suitcase
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 11
Waymo Covers Shipping After Robotaxi Drives Off With 1 Passenger’s Suitcase
5 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 11
Waymo agreed to pay shipping costs after a robotaxi at San Jose Mineta International Airport left with passenger Di Jin’s suitcase when the trunk reportedly failed to open.
Jin said he pressed the trunk button after exiting, got no response, then watched the driverless car depart; customer service told him the vehicle was already heading to a depot and could not be turned around.
The bag was later located at a Waymo depot. Jin said Waymo first offered delivery without paying courier fees, or 2 free rides so he could retrieve it himself, before covering shipment.
Waymo did not comment on the specific case, but its help pages say trunks can be opened via the app or a release above the license plate and may not open if a rider exits before the trip officially ends.
The incident lands as Waymo expands airport service, including San Jose’s fully autonomous ride-hailing program launched in November 2025, putting more scrutiny on how robotaxis handle routine travel problems.
If a robotaxi can't be trusted with luggage, how can we fully trust it with our lives on the road?
Can new government regulations keep pace with the unexpected failures of rapidly advancing robotaxi technology?
Is your lost item in a driverless car a simple mistake or a sign of deeper technological flaws?