Summary
- GM CEO Mary Barra admitted company’s failures in manufacturing EVs, addressing software issues, and managing its self-driving division Cruise
- Cruise autonomous driving unit fined $1.5 million for failing to report an accident where a pedestrian was severely injured
- NHTSA to increase oversight of Cruise activities and require detailed reporting on operations and safety measures
- Cruise developed in-house chips for self-driving cars, aiming to reduce costs and increase driving range
- Tesla’s upcoming FSD technology event raises questions about readiness for deploying robotaxis and regulatory approval
Article
General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra acknowledged three important areas where the company had faltered in 2023: manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs), addressing software issues, and managing its self-driving division, Cruise. The autonomous driving unit of Cruise has recently accepted a consent order to pay a $1.5 million penalty for not properly reporting an accident in which one of its self-driving taxis severely injured a pedestrian. Cruise will now face increased oversight from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as it resumes testing in Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas.
Cruise, which operates under GM, faced a severe setback a year ago when one of its vehicles in San Francisco struck a pedestrian, causing serious injuries. The company failed to share crucial video footage with regulators that showed the pedestrian being dragged by the self-driving taxi. NHTSA found that Cruise had omitted important details from crash reports and as a result, Cruise has amended multiple reports to provide additional information on various crashes involving automated driving systems. NHTSA is now using its enforcement authority to ensure compliance with legal obligations for safety and transparency in automated driving systems.
To enhance oversight, NHTSA has imposed new requirements on Cruise, including reporting of operational details, software updates affecting autonomous driving systems, citations for traffic violations, and safety assessment frameworks. The company will also be required to meet quarterly with NHTSA to discuss operations and progress on the consent order. Cruise has made changes to its safety protocols, leadership team, and relationships with regulators to deploy autonomous vehicles with a focus on safety.
Cruise has faced significant challenges since the pedestrian accident, including production halts of its robotaxis, resignations of top executives, layoffs, and loss of its self-driving license in California. The company has resumed autonomous driving operations in Phoenix and Dallas, with human drivers still present in the vehicles. Cruise has developed its own chips for self-driving cars to reduce costs and increase production volume. The in-house chips are designed to improve performance and efficiency, with plans to deploy them in self-driving cars by 2025.
While GM’s Cruise division works on improving autonomous driving technology, Tesla is gearing up to showcase its Full Self Driving (FSD) technology at an upcoming event. Analysts remain skeptical about Tesla’s readiness to deploy fully self-driven robotaxis on a large scale. The successful deployment of FSD depends on reaching a level where Tesla can confidently assume liability and regulators are comfortable approving self-driving vehicles. The outcome of Tesla’s FSD demonstration will be closely watched to assess its impact on the future valuation of the company.
In conclusion, the recent consent order and penalties imposed on Cruise highlight the challenges and scrutiny faced by companies developing autonomous driving technology. The focus on safety, transparency, and regulatory compliance is essential for the successful deployment of self-driving vehicles. As GM’s Cruise and Tesla’s FSD technology continue to evolve, the future of autonomous driving hinges on meeting stringent safety standards and gaining regulatory approval for widespread adoption.
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