General Motors (GM) has announced that it will no longer be funding the development of robotaxi technology by its subsidiary, Cruise. This decision comes as a surprise to many in the industry, as GM had previously been investing heavily in autonomous vehicle technology.
The move to halt funding for robotaxi development is a significant shift for GM, which had been seen as a leader in the race to develop self-driving cars. Cruise, which was acquired by GM in 2016, had been working on developing a fleet of robotaxis for use in ride-sharing services.
In a statement, GM cited the high costs and uncertain timeline for the development of fully autonomous vehicles as reasons for its decision to stop funding Cruise’s robotaxi development. The company also noted that it is focusing on other aspects of its autonomous vehicle program, such as developing self-driving technology for commercial trucks.
The decision to halt funding for robotaxi development is a setback for Cruise, which had been seen as a key player in the autonomous vehicle industry. The company had been testing its self-driving cars on the streets of San Francisco and had plans to launch a robotaxi service in the city.
Despite the setback, Cruise remains optimistic about the future of autonomous vehicles. In a statement, the company said that it is still committed to developing self-driving technology and that it will continue to work towards bringing autonomous vehicles to market.
The news of GM’s decision to halt funding for robotaxi development by Cruise has raised questions about the future of self-driving cars. Some experts believe that the technology is still years away from being ready for widespread use, while others remain optimistic about the potential benefits of autonomous vehicles.
In the meantime, GM’s decision to refocus its autonomous vehicle efforts on commercial trucks highlights the growing interest in using self-driving technology for freight transportation. With the rise of e-commerce and the increasing demand for fast, efficient delivery services, self-driving trucks could play a key role in the future of logistics.
Overall, GM’s decision to halt funding for robotaxi development by Cruise is a significant development in the autonomous vehicle industry. While the future of self-driving cars remains uncertain, it is clear that companies like GM and Cruise are continuing to invest in developing new technologies that will shape the future of transportation.