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Bloomberg

Bloomberg – Inside California’s Coming Fight Over Vehicle Speed Limiters

A discussion between David Zipper and California State Senator Scott Wiener on new legislation to mandate speed regulators on new vehicles. Explains the details on why mandating this simple and already existing technology would greatly improve safety on our roads. Also covers rebuttals to common arguments used against making this safety improvement.
Read MoreBloomberg – Inside California’s Coming Fight Over Vehicle Speed Limiters

Cruise Report by Quinn Emanuel Does not Provide Key Details to Regulators

An analysis by Michael Smith on the Quinn Emanuel Report (QER) on the October 2nd, 2023 crash where a pedestrian was dragged and seriously injured. The report was commissioned by Cruise to determine what went wrong and how to address the problems, both technical and operational. But the QER failed to address the most important issues and is therefore not an indication that Cruise is moving forward with improving safety.
Read MoreCruise Report by Quinn Emanuel Does not Provide Key Details to Regulators
Reuters

Reuters – GM to cut spending by $1 billion on robotaxi unit Cruise in 2024

General Motors is slashing Cruise's 2024 budget by $1 billion despite a commitment to its robotaxi venture. Following an accident resulting in investigations, GM seeks to refocus Cruise, now enduring a $2.7 billion loss and restructuring. CEO Barra emphasizes safety and talent retention, as expansion plans are paused.
Read MoreReuters – GM to cut spending by $1 billion on robotaxi unit Cruise in 2024

NY Times – Cruise Says Hostility Toward Regulators Led to Grounding of Its Autonomous Cars

An investigation by Quinn Emanuel law firm into an October crash involving a Cruise driverless car revealed a lack of clear communication with regulators and prioritization of reputation over safety. Following the incident, the Justice Department and other agencies are investigating, Cruise has halted operations, laid off staff, and replaced its CEO. The self-driving subsidiary of General Motors is now seeking to rebuild trust and resume business..
Read MoreNY Times – Cruise Says Hostility Toward Regulators Led to Grounding of Its Autonomous Cars

Cruise Releases Third-Party Findings Regarding October 2

In a blog post, Cruise published the detailed Quinn Emanuel report on the October 2nd crash where a pedestrian was struck by a Cruise AV after a hit-and-run incident. Despite Cruise's claim of no intentional deceit, the report uncovers procedural and leadership shortcomings, leading to misinformation and incomplete disclosures to regulators and the media. This resulted in the suspension of Cruise's driverless permits. Changes including high-level employee departures and operational overhauls are being implemented.
Read MoreCruise Releases Third-Party Findings Regarding October 2

Washington Post – DOJ and SEC investigate GM-owned self-driving car company Cruise

The DOJ and SEC are investigating Cruise, a GM-owned autonomous car company, following an incident in October where a car hit and dragged a pedestrian. This comes after the California DMV suspended Cruise's permits. The company, which paused its driverless testing, is cooperating with authorities and released a report on the crash.
Read MoreWashington Post – DOJ and SEC investigate GM-owned self-driving car company Cruise

The Robot Report – San Francisco files lawsuit to pump brakes on robotaxis

On December 11th 2023 San Francisco sued California's Public Utilities Commission to limit robotaxis, following safety incidents with autonomous vehicles (AVs) like those from Cruise and Waymo. The suit seeks to review and revoke permits that allowed unchecked expansion and demands better safety measures and regulations. Although Cruise lost its permits, Waymo, expanding to LA, remains affected. Waymo has challenged the city's appeal, emphasizing its commitment to safe operations.
Read MoreThe Robot Report – San Francisco files lawsuit to pump brakes on robotaxis

Washington Post – San Francisco sues California over ‘unsafe,’ ‘disruptive’ self-driving cars

San Francisco is suing a state commission for letting autonomous vehicle companies, like Waymo and GM's Cruise, operate without strict regulation, following numerous safety incidents. The city's action reflects growing concerns over self-driving cars, which were initially welcomed. The legal challenge aims to compel more rigorous safety standards and reporting for these vehicles, amidst fears they're compromising public safety and disrupting emergency services. Waymo remains operational, while Cruise lost its permit after a crash.
Read MoreWashington Post – San Francisco sues California over ‘unsafe,’ ‘disruptive’ self-driving cars

Cruise hits, runs over, and drags pedestrian, severely injuring them

Detailed crash analysis (completed 1/23/2024, before Quinn report was made available): On 10/2/23 a pedestrian in San Francisco crossed 5th Street at Market Street in the crosswalk as the light turned red. The pedestrian was first hit by a human-driven vehicle, remained on the hood for a distance, and then fell into the adjacent lane. A Cruise robotaxi in the adjacent lane hit the pedestrian and stopped. The Cruise vehicle then proceeded another 20 feet, dragging the pedestrian underneath the vehicle. The pedestrian was severely injured by the Cruise robotaxi. Regulators shut down Cruise service for providing misinformation.
Read MoreCruise hits, runs over, and drags pedestrian, severely injuring them

MIT Technology Review – What’s next for robotaxis in 2024

Robotaxi companies face multiple challenges in 2023, including rebuilding public trust after accidents and proving their profitability against conventional ride services. In San Francisco, Cruise's accident and workforce cuts highlighted industry risks, while Waymo expands cautiously. Despite high costs and regulatory hurdles, robotaxis operate in select US and Chinese cities. Europe lags, focusing on mass transit. The industry wrestles with safety transparency and pressure to reduce costs, striving to remain viable amidst rapid technological and competitive landscapes.
Read MoreMIT Technology Review – What’s next for robotaxis in 2024

Electrek – Tesla finally releases FSD v12, its last hope for self-driving

Elon Musk claims Tesla's FSD Beta v12 update brings a shift to end-to-end neural networks, replacing vast lines of explicit code. If successful, the AI-driven system may fulfill longstanding self-driving promises. Skeptics anticipate rollout issues, as prior updates have been unpredictable. The v12 is now rolling out to select early beta testers, with Tesla's credibility in FSD on the line.
Read MoreElectrek – Tesla finally releases FSD v12, its last hope for self-driving

Teslarati – Waymo has applied to expand driverless operations to Los Angeles

Waymo is poised to enter Los Angeles as it seeks CPUC approval to extend its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, while simultaneously collaborating with local stakeholders. Amidst previous expansions and 24-hour operations in San Francisco, competitor Cruise faces setbacks following an accident and permit revocation, highlighting Waymo's leading position in the race for driverless market dominance as noted by Dan O’Dowd, a critic of Tesla's FSD.
Read MoreTeslarati – Waymo has applied to expand driverless operations to Los Angeles