GM’s (General Motors) self-driving vehicle unit, Cruise, is facing a massive roadblock before it is commercialized. The United States DOJ (Department of Justice) and the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) have been investigating the unsettling incident that occurred in October 2023, where it was seen that a Cruise robotaxi crashed into a pedestrian and dragged her about 20 feet.
That incident has raised many questions about the safety of using the Robotaxi and what the company is doing to address its safety protocols. This investigation threatens the robotaxi’s commercialization and equally affects the image of the AV (Autonomous Vehicle) industry.
The Incident and Setbacks
“Although there have not been many details about the disturbing incident because the company, Cruise, has not revealed the health status of the dragged pedestrian or the extent of her injuries, their silence has caused more harm than good because their inaction has raised public concern,” says car accident attorney Jimmy Fasig.
One key piece of information available is that the pedestrian was first struck by a vehicle before being hit by the robotaxi. The robotaxi then dragged its victim for a few seconds, about 20 feet. That highlighted a failed emergency-braking feature that the company boasts of.
Cruise released a report through a law firm, Quinn Emanuel. The report is reportedly a 195-page document. It highlighted their disgust with deceiving regulators and a series of information about some of Cruise’s executives hindering a speedy investigation process. They said the actions have delayed them from giving a full report on the extent of the accident.
The news was concealed until January 2024, which coincides with GM’s quarterly earnings report. That situation placed Mary Barra, CEO, under severe scrutiny, mainly because of her support for Cruise even when they were recording financial losses of over $8 million. In addition, investors are agitated and are questioning the future of GM’s robotaxi.
The Impact
So far, these investigations and negative publicity have caused Cruise considerable harm. It was reported that California, the significant testing ground for AVs, has temporarily halted Cruise’s permit to test-run its Robotaxis. That disrupts Cruise’s plans and operation, but also sends a message about how crucial safety is.
The opposition parties have taken a firm hold on the situation. One of them, the Teamsters, has used the opportunity to ask that the AV industry be shut down. That was reported because they believe that AVs will cause massive job losses in the transportation sector. They also pointed out that the industry is not yet mature enough to release these Robotaxis, as it poses a threat to public safety.
This incident will impact other competitors, such as Zoox (Amazon) and Waymo (Alphabet), and potentially delay their development timelines.
The Change They Promised
Cruise promises a change in response to the incident. It is said that they acknowledge their “failure of leadership” and promised to put safety and transparency first moving forward. Their promises are further outlined below.
- Improved safety measures: They promised a comprehensive review and possible renovation of their self-driving systems, as well as a focus on enhancing their obstacle detection and emergency braking capabilities.
- Leadership reform: A reform will be implemented in the leadership sector to foster a culture that prioritizes safety and accountability.
- Transparency: They vowed to always remain open to communication with the public and regulators, including accurate and timely reports of accidents and safety concerns.
Noting these promises is essential because they outline the providers’ shortcomings and attitudes toward the issues highlighted by users.
Conclusion: The Future of Cruise and the AV Industry
This Cruise incident is one of the many challenges that the AV industry faces. Although technological advancements in cars are beneficial, safety must be guaranteed. Because of this, the government may impose a stricter protocol on AVs. Still, all these will eventually blow away, and everyone will be robo-safe.
