Kyle Vogt, the CEO of General Motors’ self-driving vehicle company Cruise, has resigned, causing a stir in the autonomous vehicle industry. The announcement comes just weeks after Cruise paused operations of its driverless fleet to review safety protocols.
Vogt, who expressed gratitude for his last 10 years at the company, praised Cruise’s achievements, which include successfully providing over 250,000 driverless rides across several cities. He also showcased confidence in Cruise’s future and commended the team’s capabilities and product vision.
However, the recent suspension of Cruise’s testing and deployment permits for autonomous robotaxis by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) took a toll on the company’s operations. The suspension was a result of an investigation into an incident that occurred in October, casting doubt on the safety of Cruise’s vehicles.
Furthermore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a separate safety probe, specifically looking at rear-end crashes involving Cruise’s vehicles. Concerns were raised regarding potential issues with braking and immobilization.
To add to the challenges faced by Cruise, the company recently announced the temporary halt of production for its Cruise Origin van, stating that it will be pausing production after completing a small number of pre-commercial vehicles.
Despite these setbacks, Vogt remains optimistic about the future of autonomous vehicles. He criticized the current state of road safety but firmly believes that a better future is within reach.
Following his resignation, Vogt plans to take time off to spend with his family and explore new ideas. The news of Vogt’s departure was contributed to by FOX Business’ Eric Revell.
The resignation of Kyle Vogt as the CEO of GM’s self-driving vehicle company Cruise, in the midst of a safety debacle and production halt, marks a significant turning point for the company. As the autonomous vehicle industry faces growing scrutiny, Cruise and other companies in the sector must work diligently to rebuild public trust and ensure the safety of their technology.
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