US auto safety regulator closes investigation into GM’s Cruise robot taxi, ET Auto

Cruise, which resumed U.S. operations in April with a small fleet of human-driven vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona, said it had updated the software on all vehicles in its test fleet.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has closed its preliminary investigation into the sudden braking and immobilization of 1,194 autonomous passenger vehicles operated by General Motors’ Cruise unit.

NHTSA said Thursday it is concluding an evaluation that began in December 2022 after reviewing Cruise recall data and analyzing data that showed a decrease in harsh braking incidents after software updates.

Earlier this month, robotaxi announced a recall of all of its vehicles equipped with self-driving systems in the United States.

NHTSA said its Office of Defects Investigation determined that Cruise vehicles were involved in 10 crashes, four of which involved injuries to vulnerable road users, after analyzing data on emergency braking in 7,632 incidents monitored by Cruise’s automated driving system.

Cruise still faces investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission over an accident last October in which one of its robotaxi vehicles struck a pedestrian and dragged her 20 feet (six meters).

The company, like other autonomous vehicle technology companies such as Waymo (Alphabet) and Zoox (Amazon), have come under intense regulatory scrutiny due to safety concerns following numerous accidents involving their vehicles.

Cruise, which resumed U.S. operations in April with a small fleet of human-driven vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona, said it had updated the software on all vehicles in its test fleet.

But in response to the October crash and subsequent investigations, Cruise’s CEO resigned last year and General Motors announced plans to cut spending on its autonomous driving unit.

The California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates robotaxi operations in the state, imposed the maximum fine of $112,500 on Cruise for failing to provide the commission with full information about the October crash in a timely manner.