GM is aiming to deploy a fleet of Cruise Origin AVs, the automaker’s fully autonomous, all-electric robotaxi developed by Cruise, GM’s self-driving technology division. Now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is set to rule on whether or not Cruise Origin is ready for public roads.
According to a recent report from Reuters, which cites NHTSA acting Administrator Ann Carlson, the regulatory body will issue a decision on the matter in the next few weeks. Cruise did not comment.
Back in February of 2022, GM filed a petition with the NHTSA to deploy as many as 2,500 units of the Cruise Origin annually. The fully autonomous Cruise Origin does not include any human controls, including no steering wheel, mirrors, or windshield wipers.
Acting Administrator Carlson told Reuters that the main issue was to decide whether or not vehicles driven exclusively by computers were required to comply with the same safety standards as human-piloted vehicles with regard to requirements for mirrors, windshield wipers, and similar equipment.
Cruise already operates a relatively small number of Chevy Bolt EVs equipped with autonomous self-driving technology in San Francisco, and recently launched similar services in Phoenix and Austin. The company also recently celebrated reaching 3 million driverless miles driven across its fleet operation. Critically, Cruise’s autonomous Chevy Bolt EVs are still equipped with human controls, including a steering wheel and pedals.
GM originally petitioned the NHTSA to operate a Chevy Bolt EV without a steering wheel or pedals on U.S. roads in 2018. However, the agency took no action and GM ended up withdrawing its petition in 2020.
According to Carlson, the NHTSA is interested in establishing a new program designed to provide transparency on the issues of AV safety and deployment, as well as how the NHTSA is overseeing these new technological developments as they are put into service on public roads. Meanwhile, legislation has been proposed to regulate the adoption of self-driving vehicles, but has yet to be passed.
Back in December of 2022, the NHTSA opened a formal safety probe into the Cruise AVs, finding that Cruise vehicles “may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilized.”
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Comments
Why does it take weeks to decide something that should be a unanimous NO?
The “relatively small number” already on the road in San Francisco cause enough problems.
I will never get in one and I hope my state outlaws them on public roads.
you will get in one eventually we all know it
Ar least I can use it as a place to dump my trash.
Thats not a nice thing to call yourself.
I perjaps I was referring to you.
This is s huge waste of time and money.
Not necessarily, they can also be used as an optional vehicle for Airport Taxi’s , Uber or even Lyft, and it looks as if they are the targets to begin with when it comes to this vehicle.
Autonomous vehicles like the Origin will improve quality of life across the board for so many people. The sooner they arrive, the sooner we all benefit. They will change the world for the better in so many ways.
Spoken like a true Cruise employee (or troll)….
Hell nah
Interesting times.
If you’re brain dead…..
I would like to see the projected cost per mile ( using the same calculation) and be able to cross reference the cost against non-electric vehicle. When an EV vehicle only has a range of approx 250 miles before needing a charge. That would provide a great measurement to either encourage people to consider purchasing an electric vehicle and also put pressure on the manufacturers to provide the best value and to provide increased capabilities for distance prior to a charge.