GM Ditches Cruise, Supernal Moves HQ: A Week in Autonomous Vehicles and Transportation Tech
- This week in the world of transportation, big news regarding two prominent players: GM’s decision to pivot away from its self-driving car subsidiary Cruise and Supernal’s relocation from Washington, D.C., to Irvine.
Cruise’s Downshift
General Motors’ surprise end to its Cruise autonomous vehicle project has sent ripples through the industry. After a nearly decade-long investment, GM will shift Cruise’s focus from robotaxis to personal autonomous vehicles. This move comes after a series of setbacks, including an incident where a Cruise robotaxi left a pedestrian struck and dragged under its vehicle.
Public scrutiny and regulatory concerns mounted following the incident, culminating in the resignation of Cruise’s CEO, Kyle Vogt, and a significant workforce reduction. While elements of Cruise will remain, the ambitious robotaxi ambitions have been significantly scaled back.
Supernal’s California Dream
In a separate development, Hyundai’s urban air mobility startup, Supernal, is shifting its global headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Irvine, California. Approximately 30 of its 115 employees will be relocating. The move indicates a strategic shift for the company, possibly focusing on proximity to key partners and the burgeoning West Coast EV ecosystem.
Other Notable Developments
San Francisco has been identified as the most prepared city for new transportation technologies like autonomous vehicles, air taxis, and AI, according to a new urban mobility readiness index.
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Uber and WeRide launched a robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, furthering the geographic expansion of autonomous vehicle deployments.
- Fisker resolved another federal safety investigation regarding its Ocean SUVs rolling away unexpectedly, while Lucid Motors
