California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has ordered General Motors’ Cruise unit to withdraw its autonomous vehicles from the state’s roads. The decision is based on safety concerns, with the DMV asserting that the driverless cars pose an “unreasonable risk to public safety.” The DMV has also accused Cruise of “misrepresenting” the safety of its technology, leading to the suspension of Cruise’s autonomous vehicle deployment and driverless testing permit.
Safety concerns and misrepresentation
The DMV’s action comes in the wake of a series of accidents involving Cruise vehicles. One notable incident involved a self-driving Cruise vehicle braking but failing to avoid hitting a pedestrian who had already been struck by a hit-and-run driver. Cruise initially did not disclose all video footage of the accident, raising doubts about the vehicles’ ability to respond safely during such incidents.
The DMV’s suspension is effective immediately, dealing a significant setback to Cruise, which is an integral part of GM’s plans for future growth. It’s also a blow to the broader autonomous vehicle (AV) industry. Unionized transit workers and other critics of self-driving vehicles have welcomed the suspension.
Cruise’s response and self-driving vehicle safety
In response to the suspension, Cruise announced that it would temporarily pause the operation of its driverless autonomous vehicles in San Francisco. The company emphasized its commitment to developing and deploying autonomous vehicles as part of an effort to enhance road safety.
Cruise explained that its teams are analyzing the incident involving the pedestrian to enhance the autonomous vehicle’s response to such rare events. It also stated that the DMV was reviewing the incident, and the company was cooperating with the investigation.
Before the DMV’s decision, GM CEO Mary Barra expressed confidence in Cruise’s growth potential. GM has positioned Cruise as a significant revenue generator, with a forecast of up to $50 billion annually by 2030. However, the company reported a $723 million loss on Cruise in the third quarter.
Ongoing investigations and autonomous vehicle regulation
The DMV’s decision follows earlier investigations into Cruise’s self-driving vehicles. In August, the DMV initiated inquiries into “concerning incidents” involving Cruise’s autonomous vehicles, leading to a request for Cruise to remove half of its robotaxis from the roads. Additionally, a Cruise robotaxi was involved in a collision with an emergency vehicle in San Francisco that same month.
U.S. auto safety regulators are also investigating Cruise to determine whether the company has taken adequate precautions to safeguard pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been actively examining reports from Cruise regarding incidents in which pedestrians were injured and videos posted online showing further incidents.
Despite the suspension of Cruise’s operations, California had previously granted Waymo and Cruise permission to transport paying passengers in San Francisco, signifying a significant advancement for autonomous vehicle services.
Critics of self-driving technology have used the DMV’s decision to emphasize the need for measurable safety standards in the industry. The Transport Workers union of America (TWU) stated that companies like Cruise should be held to the high safety standards achieved by human operators and noted that self-driving technology has yet to match these standards.