NHTSA closes inquiry of GM’s Cruise robotaxis

News, 16 January 2025

Without taking any further action, U.S. vehicle safety authorities are ending their preliminary inquiry of General Motors’ Cruise robotaxis.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, following two reports of pedestrian-related collisions, the Office of Defects Investigation launched a preliminary investigation in October 2023 to ascertain whether cars with Cruise LLC-made and operated Automated Driving Systems were exercising the proper caution when approaching pedestrians on the road.

Two public reports of Cruise ADS-equipped cars encroaching on pedestrians in crosswalks were also found by the office.

On October 2, 2023, GM, which acquired San Francisco-based Cruise automation in 2016, experienced collision, where the pedestrian was pulled to the side of a San Francisco street by its Cruise robotaxi.

In November 2023, Cruise announced a safety recall due to an issue with their ADS software. According to the NHTSA, the purpose of the recall was to fix safety flaws. Cruise has now shut down its business, and no copies of its advertisements are currently in use on public highways.

Following the collision, California regulators determined that Cruise’s vehicles constituted a public safety risk, leading to the suspension of autonomous operations across the country. Cruise’s license was cancelled by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles because it was carrying passengers about San Francisco without the need of human drivers.

The agency announced that it had examined 2,759 collision-related records related to Cruise, out of these 1,113 included a “pedestrian conflict.” In five of those cases, a Cruise collided with a pedestrian, resulting in three injuries overall.

Although the NHTSA stated that it retains the ability to take further action if new facts warrant it, the ODI is concluding its preliminary evaluation.

GM announced last month that it would stop subsidizing Cruise driverless car division and withdraw from the robotaxi sector.

About NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a U.S. government agency under the Department of Transportation. Established in 1970, its primary mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce road traffic crashes. The NHTSA is responsible for enforcing vehicle performance standards and partnerships with state and local governments on traffic safety initiatives.

Overall, the NHTSA plays a critical role in enhancing road safety and reducing the number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities in the United States.