Cruise places robotaxi operations on pause following California license suspension

Cruise has paused all its driverless operations, the corporate has introduced on LinkedIn and X. The GM-backed self-driving agency defined that it is taking time to look at its “processes, methods and instruments” and that it’s going to “mirror on how [it] can higher function in a method that can earn public belief.” Cruise has been thrust beneath the highlight just lately after the California Division of Motor Automobiles (DMV) suspended its permits to function driverless autos within the state attributable to a number of security associated points. The California Public Utilities Fee additionally suspended the license giving Cruise the precise to cost passengers for robotaxi rides. 

One of many newest incidents involving a Cruise automobile occurred in early October when a girl was hit by one other automotive and was hurled in entrance of one of many firm’s driverless autos. Cruise’s robotaxi stopped on prime of her leg and pinned her beneath till first responders arrived and will extract her. The DMV suspended the corporate’s permits just a few weeks afterward. 

As CNBC notes, this transfer comes shortly after GM CEO Mary Barra mentioned the automaker will help Cruise’s enlargement with “security” as its “gating issue.” TechCrunch says it additionally comes only a day after an all-hands assembly, whereby CEO Kyle Vogt informed his employees that Cruise hasn’t paused operations outdoors of California. To notice, the corporate has driverless fleets in Phoenix, Austin, Houston, Dallas and Miami, as properly. 

The corporate did not elaborate on what inspecting its instruments and methods entail and the way precisely it intends to “rebuild public belief.” For now, Cruise will solely be deploying autonomous autos with drivers behind the wheel.