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, starting with company president Kyle Vogt. The service initially remains limited to Cruise employees and select members of the public riding for free.
General Motors' autonomous driving subsidiary Cruise officially offers fully driverless rides in San Francisco using its Chevrolet Bolt EV-based vehicles. The service currently operates primarily for Cruise employees, though certain members of the public also ride without paying a fare. The company has not yet opened this driverless experience to the general public.
Cruise co-founder and president Kyle Vogt becomes the first person to hail a completely driverless ride using a smartphone app. Videos shared on YouTube show the impressive journey of a vehicle named Sourdough arriving with absolutely no one in the driver's or passenger's seat. Vogt describes the experience as unforgettable, noting that the autonomous vehicle feels like it has its own confident yet careful personality.
After his initial trip, Vogt requests five additional driverless rides throughout the night to further test the service. He brings along other top Cruise executives, and the entire group experiences smooth, flawless journeys. These late-night test rides take place under a specific "driverless deployment permit" issued by the California DMV.