Waymo has suspended robotaxi services in four US cities after its self-driving fleet encountered difficulties operating in heavy rain and flooded roads.

The company said services were paused in San Antonio, Dallas and Houston in Texas, as well as Atlanta, Georgia, following a series of severe weather events. In Atlanta, local reports said one Waymo vehicle entered a flooded street on Wednesday and became stuck for about an hour before being recovered.

The incidents add to ongoing scrutiny of Waymo’s autonomous driving system, which has previously drawn criticism over its handling of unexpected road conditions, including reported failures to respond consistently to stopped school buses.

US regulators, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, are examining aspects of the company’s autonomous driving systems, including earlier collisions and safety performance. On 23 January, a Waymo robotaxi struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, causing minor injuries.

While Waymo scales back operations in multiple cities, Tesla has signalled an expansion of its robotaxi programme. Elon Musk said on X that the company plans to introduce autonomous ride-hailing services in two additional Texas cities, Dallas and Houston, following its initial launch in Austin in 2025.