GM resumes autonomous vehicle project following over a year after the Cruise robotaxi mishap

In a significant move, General Motors (GM) has announced the restart of its driverless-vehicle program, following a major setback in October 2023 when a woman was struck and dragged by a Cruise robotaxi for approximately 20 feet. This incident led to an indefinite pause in the development and deployment of the Cruise Origin autonomous vehicle.

The crash also prompted an investigation by the Justice Department and resulted in several executive dismissals. In an effort to regain momentum, GM has been building a team of former Cruise workers and new staff for the revamped driverless vehicle initiative, with Sterling Anderson, who previously worked at Tesla as the Autopilot chief, leading the charge.

In a private meeting with employees on Aug. 6, Anderson outlined the plans for the driverless vehicle program, emphasising that autonomy is the future. He also revealed that the focus of GM's autonomous vehicle development is now on the Chevrolet Bolt, rather than the Cruise Origin, due to regulatory uncertainty surrounding the latter's unique design.

An analysis commissioned by GM found that a series of technical failures were to blame for the October 2023 incident. In response, GM CEO Mary Barra refocused efforts on the troubled unit and announced plans to simplify "their path to scale" by focusing on the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt.

The Per-unit costs for the Chevrolet Bolt are expected to be much lower, helping GM "optimize its resources." The company is aiming to have a car that can drive without anyone at the wheel, with the focus of the program on personal use rather than a robotaxi service.

GM has abandoned plans to produce its autonomous cab Cruise Origin indefinitely. Despite the challenges faced, the company confirmed the restart of its driverless-vehicle program in a statement to FOX Business on Monday.

This incident marked a major setback for the entire autonomous vehicle industry, but with the restart of GM's driverless-vehicle program, it seems the industry is moving forward once again. An analysis has been conducted on the incident involving the Cruise Origin autonomous vehicle and a pedestrian, and GM is working on developing hands-free and eyes-free driving with a human inside the vehicle to ensure the safety and reliability of its autonomous vehicles.

GM resumes autonomous vehicle project following over a year after the Cruise robotaxi mishap