General Motors’ self-driving vehicle unit, Cruise, is set to reintroduce cars operated by human drivers in Phoenix. This move comes after the company suspended operations following an accident in October 2022, where a pedestrian was dragged by a Cruise robotaxi after being struck by another vehicle. The relaunched fleet of vehicles will not function as robotaxis but will instead focus on creating maps and gathering road information in select cities, starting with Phoenix.
Cruise has expressed its goal to resume driverless operations but has not provided a specific timeline for doing so. The company also did not mention when human-driven vehicles would be expanded to other cities. According to Cruise, this reintroduction of human-driven vehicles is a crucial step in validating their self-driving systems and rebuilding trust with regulators and communities.
In October 2023, Cruise halted its operations to address safety concerns and rebuild trust with stakeholders. The company has made significant progress during this period, guided by new leadership, recommendations from third-party experts, and a focus on strengthening partnerships with the communities where their vehicles operate.
An independent investigation ordered by GM and Cruise into the October incident revealed culture issues, ineptitude, and poor leadership as the primary factors contributing to regulatory oversights that led to the accident. The investigation also examined allegations of a coverup by Cruise leadership but found no evidence to support these claims. Cruise has accepted the conclusions of the report and committed to acting on all recommendations.
Cruise is cooperating fully with investigations conducted by state and federal agencies, including the California DMV, California Public Utilities Commission, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Before the accident, Cruise had ambitious plans for expanding its fleet of robotaxis beyond its home market. However, the incident prompted a significant restructuring within the company. The CEO and co-founder, Kyle Vogt, along with other co-founders, resigned, and nine leaders were ousted. Additionally, Cruise laid off 24% of its workforce and terminated contracts with several contractors.
The reintroduction of human-driven vehicles in Phoenix marks a significant step for Cruise in its journey towards resuming fully autonomous operations. While the company has faced challenges and setbacks, it remains committed to improving safety and rebuilding trust with regulators and communities. As Cruise continues its efforts to develop and deploy self-driving technology, the outcome of ongoing investigations will play a crucial role in shaping the future of autonomous vehicles on our roads.
