General Motors (GM.N) CEO Mary Barra shared insights on Monday regarding the automaker’s dedication to addressing challenges within Cruise, its self-driving unit. Barra emphasized that the company is “very focused on righting the ship” at Cruise but refrained from disclosing spending details until ongoing reviews are concluded.
Speaking at a media event, Barra outlined that GM is currently undergoing an external safety review to guide the future course of action for Cruise. The results of this review are anticipated to be finalized in early 2024, shaping the company’s approach to overcoming current challenges within the autonomous vehicle division.
“We’ll work through the challenges we have right now at Cruise,” Barra stated. “We have to have the right plan.” She underscored the importance of developing a comprehensive strategy to address the issues facing Cruise and position the self-driving unit for success.
Barra declined to express an opinion on whether regulators have treated Cruise more severely than Tesla Autopilot. Similarly, she refrained from specifying the financial commitment GM is willing to make towards Cruise in the future. Barra mentioned that discussions about funding would take place once the ongoing assessments are completed and a clear plan for the way forward is established.
Last month, Cruise made headlines by pausing all driverless and supervised car trips in the United States. This decision came in the wake of an expanded safety review of its robotaxis, prompted by the suspension of Cruise’s ability to conduct self-driving testing on public roads in California. The suspension followed an October 2nd crash in which a pedestrian was dragged 20 feet by a self-driving vehicle after being struck by another vehicle.
On Friday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) ordered Cruise to appear at a hearing on February 6th, citing concerns about the company “misleading the Commission through omission regarding the extent and seriousness of the accident” and “making misleading public comments regarding its interactions with the commission.” The regulatory scrutiny adds to the challenges facing Cruise as it navigates through the aftermath of the recent incidents.
