Key facts
- Test drivers for Waymo and Zoox sustained more than two dozen injuries in 2024 and 2025.
- Injuries resulted from hard braking or other sudden movements by autonomous vehicles.
- Some workers experienced injuries like whiplash and were sidelined for months.
- Other AV developers might be exempt from OSHA reporting requirements.
- Gatik secured $200 million in funding, with a significant commercial agreement with PepsiCo.
- Waymo shared 10 lessons learned from its autonomous vehicle operations.
Autonomous vehicle developers have long claimed their technology will enhance road safety, but a new investigation reveals a human cost for those working directly with the vehicles. Sean O’Kane's research into Occupational Safety and Health Administration data shows that test drivers for Waymo and Zoox sustained over two dozen injuries in 2024 and 2025. These incidents, often caused by hard braking or sudden movements by the self-driving cars, have led to injuries like whiplash, sidelining some workers for months.
While proponents argue AVs reduce crashes, the data suggests a different reality for test drivers. It is likely that drivers for other autonomous vehicle companies also experience injuries, but these firms may be exempt from OSHA's reporting requirements, obscuring the full scope of the problem.
In other mobility news, Gatik, an autonomous vehicle startup specializing in driverless box trucks, has raised $200 million in its largest funding round to date, led by Qatar Investment Authority and Koch Disruptive Technologies. This funding, coupled with a multiyear commercial agreement with PepsiCo worth $600 million in contracted revenue, signals Gatik's push for scaling its operations.
Additional deals in the sector include Airbound, an Indian autonomous drone startup, raising $37 million; Mubadala Capital acquiring a majority stake in truckload brokerage Arrive Logistics; and Regent Craft securing $120 million for its electric seagliders, with a notable push into the defense sector. Vista Global Holding is also reportedly considering a European IPO that could raise over $1 billion.
Notable tidbits include General Motors facing increased scrutiny over EV brake issues, Rivian's CFO Claire McDonough resigning at a critical juncture for the company, and Waymo sharing key lessons from its extensive autonomous driving experience, including a critique of Tesla's camera-only approach. Waymo also announced plans for an international expansion into Munich, Germany.