GM's Cruise Completes First Fully Driverless Robotaxi Rides in San Francisco
General Motors' autonomous subsidiary Cruise successfully operates its first completely driverless rides in San Francisco using a Chevrolet Bolt EV. The service currently remains limited to select employees and specific public members at no charge.
General Motors' autonomous vehicle subsidiary Cruise begins offering fully driverless rides in San Francisco using its Chevrolet Bolt EV-based fleet. The company currently limits this groundbreaking service primarily to Cruise employees, though it also allows certain members of the public to ride free of charge. Cruise has not yet opened the driverless experience to the general public.
Cruise president and co-founder Kyle Vogt becomes the first person to hail a completely driverless ride through the smartphone app. He takes his initial trip in a vehicle nicknamed Sourdough, noting that the absence of a human in the driver's seat gives the autonomous vehicle a unique personality and a gingerly yet confident vibe. Videos shared on the company's YouTube channel showcase the impressive, smooth operation of this historic journey.
Following his successful first trip, Vogt requests five additional driverless rides throughout the night to further test the service. He brings along other key Cruise executives, including co-founder Dan Kan and COO Gil West, reporting that all subsequent rides are smooth and flawless. These nighttime test drives operate under a specific driverless deployment permit from the California DMV.