Self-driving taxis in San Francisco have been under fire in recent weeks, blamed for everything from killing a neighborhood cat to pulling an illegal U-turn right in front of police officers who couldn’t even issue a ticket. But this week, the beleaguered robotaxis found themselves at the center of a far more heart-warming storyline: a baby born inside a Waymo.

A Waymo spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that a San Francisco woman delivered her child inside one of the company’s autonomous vehicles while en route to UCSF medical center on Monday. What began as a routine hospital trip quickly turned into a backseat emergency that even the car itself seemed to notice.

According to the company, Waymo’s rider support team detected “unusual activity” inside the vehicle and reached out to check on the situation, then immediately alerted 911. The company declined to explain exactly what the robotaxi sensed — only that the system picked up enough signals to know something wasn’t right.

The Waymo completed its journey, reaching the hospital ahead of emergency responders. UCSF spokesperson Jess Berthold confirmed both mother and newborn were transported safely inside the hospital, though the mother declined to participate in interviews. The Waymo involved in the dramatic delivery has been taken out of service for cleaning.

Though rare, Waymo says this isn’t its first mid-ride birth. “We’re proud to be a trusted ride for moments big and small, serving riders from just seconds old to many years young,” the company said in a statement.

It’s a moment of unexpected good PR for the autonomous-car maker, which has weathered public frustration after several high-profile mishaps this year. Yet despite the controversy, Waymo’s driverless taxis have surged in popularity, ferrying riders across San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Phoenix — and now, apparently, helping usher new life into the world along the way.