Threatened with Fines, GM Focuses on Improving Autonomous Cruise Taxis

Autonomous Taxi. (Dok. Cruise)

JAKARTA - A month has passed since Cruise stopped all driverless car rides in the United States. The suspension comes after California regulators suspended the company's permit to conduct self-driving trials on public roads following a crash on October 2 in which a pedestrian was dragged up to 20 feet by a Robotaxi Cruise unit after being hit by another vehicle.

For this incident, the Robotaxi Cruise unit could be fined 1.5 million US dollars or the equivalent of IDR 23.2 billion and additional sanctions for its failure to disclose details of the accident on October 2.

The latest news reported by Reuters, December 5, CEO of General Motors (GM), Mary Barra, as the owner of Cruise, stated that the Detroit automotive company is now more focused on improving the problematic Cruise.

Barra said an external safety review was underway and determining the company's future steps, with completion expected in early 2024.

"We will work through the challenges we have right now at Cruise. We have to have the right plan," said Barra.

She declined to comment on whether he thought regulators had treated Cruise more favorably than Tesla Autopilot. Barra also declined to say how much GM is willing to invest going forward until the review process is complete.

"We will talk about the necessary funding once this is finished," she concluded.