GM repurposes Cruise robotaxis for internal testing in three US states

General Motors (GM) has started testing a limited number of its Cruise robotaxi vehicles again, but this time for internal purposes, not for public ride-hailing. The vehicles, which are Bolt EVs equipped with advanced sensors, are being used to develop new driver-assistance technologies. They are being tested in select areas in Michigan, Texas, and the Bay Area, with human drivers behind the wheel. This move comes after GM’s robotaxi business faced a major setback in 2023 following a pedestrian accident in San Francisco. The company had invested more than $8 billion into the robotaxi service, but after several operational issues, GM decided to pull the plug on the project in December 2023. Although the robotaxi program is no more, the technology developed by Cruise is being incorporated into GM’s Super Cruise system, which offers hands-free driving assistance in certain cars. The tests in the Bay Area, Michigan, and Texas represent GM’s effort to give the vehicles from its failed robotaxi initiative a second life. The vehicles still feature some of the sensor setups from the original Cruise operation, although they are no longer branded with the Cruise logo.