GM Cruise Halts Production: General Motors (GM) has made the decision to temporarily halt production of its fully autonomous Cruise Origin van. This comes shortly after the Cruise unit, which focuses on driverless technology, suspended all autonomous operations. The move was disclosed during an all-hands meeting led by Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt. Vogt mentioned that they have already manufactured a substantial number of Origin vehicles, more than enough for their immediate needs.
A GM spokesperson explained that the company is in the process of finalising production for a small number of pre-commercial vehicles, after which production will be temporarily paused.
The spokesperson emphasised their belief in the trans formative potential of autonomous vehicles and the significant role that the Cruise Origin plays in this journey. Cruise, which operates under the GM umbrella, decided to suspend operations nationwide after California regulators revoked its license, citing concerns about the safety of self-driving vehicles.
Also Read: Cruise Hits the Brakes: GMs Self-Driving Unit Suspends Operations Amid Safety Concerns
Cruise had previously sought regulatory permission to deploy up to 2,500 self-driving Origin vehicles annually without traditional human controls like steering wheels.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in response to Cruise’s request, initially expected to make a decision within weeks. However, they recently initiated a new investigation into Cruise’s safety measures to protect pedestrians, following an ongoing inquiry initiated in December. The Cruise Origin, constructed in Detroit, is a collaborative effort involving GM, Cruise, and Honda.
Cruise’s board has taken steps to address the situation, hiring law firm Quinn Emanuel to review the company’s management responses to regulators investigating an October 2 accident. Additionally, technology consultancy firm Exponent has been engaged to assess Cruise’s technology. These actions reflect ongoing challenges and increased scrutiny in the autonomous vehicle industry.
Our Reader’s Queries
Why is Cruise paused?
Last Tuesday, the California DMV announced an indefinite suspension of Cruise’s testing and deployment permits for autonomous robotaxis. This decision was made due to an ongoing investigation into an incident involving one of the vehicles earlier this month. As a result, General Motors Co.’s Cruise has been hit with a major setback in its efforts to develop and deploy autonomous vehicles in California.
How much does GM own of Cruise?
Cruise, a company owned by GM with over 80% stake, has been facing a series of challenges and investigations following an unfortunate incident on October 2nd. A pedestrian in San Francisco was hit by another vehicle and dragged 20 feet by a self-driving Cruise vehicle, leading to a wave of scrutiny and concerns.
Is the Cruise origin canceled?
General Motors’ autonomous vehicle subsidiary has faced a challenging period, with the production of Cruise’s self-driving taxi, the Origin, being halted. This setback comes after the company suspended operations throughout the United States.
Is GM Super Cruise Level 4?
While Tesla Autopilot and Cadillac Super Cruise systems are impressive, they fall short of true self-driving automation. This is because a human driver must remain in the driver’s seat and can take control of the vehicle at any time. These systems are classified as Level 2 automation, which means they offer advanced driver assistance but still require human intervention. Despite this limitation, these technologies are paving the way for more advanced autonomous driving systems in the future.