General Motors’ Cruise self-driving unit will focus development efforts on the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt instead of its planned future Origin, which will not have a steering wheel or other human controls, the U.S. automaker said.
In 2022, GM applied to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for permission to deploy up to 2,500 Origin self-driving vehicles per year without human controls like brake pedals or mirrors. The agency has yet to take action on the request.
“GM and Cruise are optimizing resources to focus on developing our next-generation self-driving vehicle on the next-generation Bolt rather than Origin,” a GM spokesperson said Tuesday.
“This shift creates a more cost-effective and scalable option to pursue an autonomous future faster, while avoiding the uncertain path of regulatory compliance in the US that could hinder Origin’s scale.”
Cruise is facing a number of investigations — including from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission — after an accident in October in which one of its robotaxi vehicles struck a pedestrian and dragged her for 20 feet. Cruise and GM have come under fire after the incident, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles has revoked its license to operate self-driving vehicles.