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General Motors , self - drive automobile subsidiary Cruise and Honda be after to establish a robotaxi service of process in Japan under a new joint venture , the three companies announced today .
The companies intend to set in motion the avail with the custom - build Cruise Origin vehicles in central Tokyo in early 2026 . The service will start with dozens of Cruise Origins . The fleet will eventually expand to 500 Cruise Origin vehicles , the companies said , add that the plan is to scale the help region beyond central Tokyo .
Executives from the three company , including GM CEO Mary Barra , Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt and Honda Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe made the announcement during a press issue ahead of the Japan Mobility Show 2023 in Tokyo . Barra appeared virtually while the others attend in person .
“ We see a huge chance in Japan , as it has the potentiality to be one of the largest Ab markets in the world given the current high demand for taxis , ” Barra say . “ The region also has a growing need for unexampled forms of transportation , with driver deficit and an increase need for approachable grade of DoT .
The joint speculation between GM , Cruise and Honda is an annex of a well - install partnership . Honda and GM have collaborated since 2013 when the company commence working on atomic number 1 fuel cell systems . The Cruise Origin , the product of a multi - year quislingism with parent company GM and investor Honda , was unveiledin January 2020 . Two years after , GM and Honda announce plans toco - prepare affordable electric vehiclesthat will launch in North America in 2027 .
“ Our three companionship develop the Origin together because we make love it train strong , consecrate party with unique skillsets and a cleared vision partnering on one common goal , ” Barra remark .
The annunciation to get the Cruise Origin to Japan amount in a twelvemonth of speedy growth and milestone as well as a number of incidents in San Francisco that have mounted confrontation against the self - driving car company . In the preceding year , Cruise went from limited operation in San Francisco to receiving the last necessary permit to expand to 24 - hour-7 - Day a week divine service throughout the city as well as launching robotaxi services in certain areas of Austin , Houstonand Phoenix . The fellowship has also started testing its AVs in numerous other cities , let in Dallas , Nashville and Los Angeles .
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Earlier this week , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationopened an investigationinto Cruise ’s autonomous fomite system following several incidents ask pedestrians in San Francisco . The most recent incident , which occurred October 2 , left a womanhood stuckunderneath a Cruise robotaxiafter being hit by a man - driven vehicle . The San Francisco Police Department is also investigate that event .
NHTSA enter the preliminary probe after receiving reports of incidents of Cruise vehicles that “ may not have exercise appropriate caution around pedestrians in the roadway , ” according to a filing on the agency ’s website .
