The CEO of General Motors’ robotaxi company, Cruise, has stepped down amidst safety concerns, as the self-driving business aims to regain its momentum.
A Setback for Cruise
Kyle Vogt, co-founder of Cruise and instrumental in its acquisition by General Motors (GM) in 2016, announced his resignation on X late Sunday. This development follows an incident in early October that resulted in the suspension of Cruise’s license to operate self-driving taxis in California.
During the incident, a hit-and-run victim found themselves in the path of a Cruise taxi that failed to respond appropriately, unlike a human driver would.
Implications for GM
Vogt’s departure deals another blow to both Cruise and GM, as the automaker believes Cruise has the potential to generate $50 billion in annual sales by 2030.
GM and Cruise have not yet issued a formal response to the resignation.
In response to the incident and to rebuild public trust, Cruise has temporarily halted its entire driverless fleet across the nation. GM has also paused the production of Cruise taxis.
Towards Rebuilding Trust and Ensuring Safety
Earlier this month, Cruise announced a series of additional measures aimed at enhancing safety. An independent expert will conduct a thorough safety assessment, and an engineering firm is investigating the cause of the accident.
Despite these setbacks, Vogt remains optimistic about Cruise’s future, stating, “Cruise is still just getting started, and I believe it has a great future ahead. The folks at Cruise are brilliant, driven, and resilient.”
Moving Forward for GM
GM now faces the challenge of moving forward without the leadership and co-founder of Cruise. The success of Cruise remains critical for General Motors’ long-term goals.
