Uber to Offer Self-Driving Cruise Cars on Its Ride-Hailing Platform
Uber announced plans to integrate self-driving vehicles from General Motors' Cruise LLC into its ride-hailing network.
Uber has announced plans to integrate self-driving vehicles from General Motors’ Cruise LLC into its ride-hailing platform starting next year.
The move follows a multiyear partnership between the two companies, allowing Uber riders to opt for a Cruise autonomous vehicle when requesting a qualifying ride.
Background and Partnership Details:
The partnership marks a significant step for Cruise, aiming to regain momentum after last year’s setback. In October, Cruise was forced to ground its fleet following a serious incident in San Francisco where one of its autonomous vehicles struck and dragged a pedestrian, who was hospitalized for months.
Prior management’s mishandling of the incident led to California regulators pulling Cruise’s driverless license, citing a lack of transparency regarding the details of the collision.
Cruise’s Path to Recovery:
Despite the challenges, Cruise is working towards a return to fully autonomous operations. According to a Bloomberg report, the company is targeting the resumption of autonomous rides later this year, with plans to start charging fares by early 2025.
Launch Plans by Uber:
Uber stated that it will begin offering Cruise’s autonomous vehicles early next year, starting in a single, undisclosed market in the United States.
This marks the beginning of what could be a broader rollout of self-driving technology on Uber’s platform as both companies look to expand their presence in the autonomous vehicle space.
