GM is abandoning its robotaxi subsidiary Cruise. Today, the company announced that it will integrate Cruise into its own technical team. Under the new strategy, this division will focus on developing advanced driver assistance programs and, in the future, fully autonomous personal vehicles.
GM acquired Cruise in 2016. However, last year, the robotaxi brand came under scrutiny after one of its self-driving cars hit a pedestrian in San Francisco and dragged him along. As a result of the investigation, Cruise suspended all operations with self-driving cars and manned robotaxis, and several company executives resigned or were fired afterwards. In recent months, Cruise has resumed some limited operations, but the blow to public confidence and safety following the pedestrian incident appears to have created an insurmountable obstacle for GM.
