- General Motors’ autonomous driving unit, Cruise, has recalled around 1,200 robotaxis following an investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into hard braking issues that led to three rear-end collisions.
- The NHTSA has closed its investigation following the recall, but Cruise still faces separate probes by the DOJ and the Securities and Exchange Commission over an October incident.
OUR TAKE
Given the safety concerns and ongoing investigations, I believe Cruise must rigorously address all issues to ensure public trust and safety. Transparent communication and continuous improvement are key to responsibly advancing the autonomous vehicle industry, ensuring not only regulatory compliance but also fostering public confidence in this transformative technology.
–Vicky Wu, BTW reporter
What happened
General Motors’ autonomous driving unit, Cruise, has agreed to recall approximately 1,200 robotaxis following a safety investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall comes after the NHTSA opened an investigation into hard braking issues that led to three rear-end crashes, two of which resulted in injuries.
Cruise initially disagreed with the need for a recall but consented to do so to resolve the investigation. The company claims that prior software updates have significantly reduced the risk of unexpected braking events.
Despite this, the NHTSA found that the rate of such events in Cruise’s autonomous vehicles (AVs) was still higher than expected. The regulator noted that none of the incidents it had analyzed resulted in a crash or injuries, and it has now agreed to close the investigation following the recall.
Cruise is also facing separate investigations by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission following an accident last October where one of its robotaxis struck a pedestrian who had been hit by another vehicle and dragged her 20 feet (6 meters).
Also read: GM’s Cruise discards wheel-less AV Origin, chooses Bolt EV
Also read: GM’s Cruise eyes fare-charging for Robotaxi rides by 2025
Why it’s important
The closure of the investigation is a critical step for Cruise as it seeks to regain the trust of state and federal officials regarding the safety of its vehicles. The recall and resolution of the investigation pave the way for Cruise to resume robotaxi operations without backup safety drivers and to start carrying paying customers.
“We are committed to building trust and increasing transparency with respect to autonomous vehicle technology,” a Cruise spokesperson said Thursday. Cruise stated that the vehicles had undergone previous software updates designed to “substantially decrease the likelihood of unexpected braking incidents”. The self-driving unit provided the NHTSA with data indicating that the frequency of such braking events in Cruise’s autonomous vehicles is “very low and considerably lower than that of a human driver”.
However, the NHTSA has opened a separate investigation into whether Cruise is taking sufficient precautions with its autonomous robotaxis to protect pedestrians, which remains ongoing. Cruise also faces ongoing investigations by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission following an accident last October where one of its robotaxis struck a pedestrian who had been hit by another vehicle. The incident prompted the resignation of Cruise’s CEO and led to General Motors announcing plans to reduce spending on the self-driving unit.
The recall and ongoing investigations underscore the importance of addressing safety concerns in the autonomous vehicle industry as companies strive to bring these technologies to the public.
