Introduction

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has informed AsumeTech that Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, is planning to reduce its robotaxi fleet by 50% in San Francisco. This decision comes after multiple crashes involving Cruise autonomous vehicles in the city, including one incident where a self-driving car collided with a fire truck.

Background

Cruise had recently launched a paid robotaxi service in San Francisco. It was granted permission, along with Alphabet’s Waymo, to expand driverless operations and carry paying passengers 24/7 in the city. However, these recent accidents have caused setbacks for Cruise, which is now operating with a waitlist. The incidents have also fueled the ongoing debate in San Francisco regarding the safety and impact of driverless cars.

Investigation and Fleet Reduction

A spokesperson from the DMV stated that they are currently investigating the concerning incidents involving Cruise vehicles and are working with law enforcement officials and Cruise to establish the facts. As a result, Cruise has agreed to immediately reduce its active fleet by 50% until the investigation is complete and appropriate corrective actions are taken to improve road safety.

Current and Restricted Operations

During the day, Cruise will operate no more than 50 autonomous vehicles, and during the evening, the number will be limited to 150. In August, Cruise was operating 300 cars during the night and 100 during the day. The company has expressed its commitment to working with regulators and city departments to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Recent Incidents

Cruise’s fleet has been involved in several incidents that have garnered media attention. These include the collision with a fire truck, a vehicle getting stuck in concrete, and an autonomous vehicle with a passenger being hit by another driver who ran a red light. Additionally, last weekend, a group of Cruise vehicles caused traffic disruptions outside an outdoor music festival.