Cruise Halts Driverless Operations After California DMV Suspension
Cruise, the self-driving car company owned by General Motors, announced Thursday evening that it is pausing all driverless operations, just two days after the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended the company’s deployment and driverless testing permits. The action effectively ends Cruise’s robotaxi operations in the state.
The suspension comes as a major setback for the company, which has been working to bring its autonomous vehicles to the roads of California since 2016. Cruise had been testing its vehicles in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and other cities in the state.
The DMV’s suspension of Cruise’s permits was a result of a “failure to meet the terms and conditions” of the company’s testing permit. In particular, the DMV cited Cruise’s failure to disclose a crash involving one of its vehicles.
In response to the suspension, Cruise CEO Dan Ammann said that the company has “taken corrective actions in the areas identified by the DMV, and we are now in the process of requesting a meeting with the DMV to discuss the matter further.”
Ammann added that the company has “made significant progress in the development of our driverless technology” and that it remains “fully committed to our mission of bringing safe and reliable self-driving technology to the world.”
In a statement, Cruise said that it will continue to work with the DMV and other regulators to ensure that its vehicles are safe and compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. The company also said that it is “confident that we will be able to resume our driverless operations in California in the near future.”
The suspension of Cruise’s driverless operations in California has also affected its operations in other states. The company has paused its driverless operations in Austin, Houston, and Phoenix, where it had been charging customers for rides in its robotaxis.
Despite the setback, Cruise remains optimistic about the future of its driverless technology. The company has said that it will continue to work with regulators and other stakeholders to ensure that its vehicles are safe and compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.
Although the suspension of Cruise’s driverless operations in California has been a major setback for the company, it is still committed to its mission of bringing safe and reliable self-driving technology to the world. With the help of regulators and other stakeholders, the company is confident that it will be able to resume its driverless operations in California in the near future.
Cruise’s commitment to safety and compliance is a testament to its dedication to making the roads safer for everyone. As the company continues to work with regulators and other stakeholders to ensure that its vehicles are safe and compliant with all applicable laws and regulations, it is likely that Cruise will be able to return to the roads of California in the near future.
In the meantime, Cruise will continue to focus on its operations in other states, including Austin, Houston, and Phoenix, where it has been charging customers for rides in its robotaxis. With its commitment to safety and compliance, Cruise is well-positioned to continue its mission of bringing safe and reliable self-driving technology to the world.
Overall, Cruise’s decision to pause its driverless operations in California is a major setback for the company. However, the company remains committed to its mission of bringing safe and reliable self-driving technology to the world. With the help of regulators and other stakeholders, Cruise is confident that it will be able to return to the roads of California in the near future.
