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Cruise is pausing output of its purpose - built robotaxi , the Origin — the self-governing vehicle company ’s latest blow amid suspended operations and increase scrutiny from regulators .
Forbesfirst reported the news , citing sound recording of Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt ’s destination at an all - hands meeting Monday . TechCrunch has corroborate the news with sources who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity .
The decision to pause production on the Origin , which wasfirst unveil in January 2020 , comes after California regulatorssuspended Cruise ’s operationsin the state after they acquire that a walker was dragged by a Cruise vehicle after being strike by a human - aim car .
Cruise voluntarilypaused all of its driverless operationsin its other marketplace , including Phoenix , Austin , Houston and , more of late , Miami , in fiat to “ reconstruct public trust . ”
People who listened in to the all - hands meeting expressed some thwarting , noting Vogt gave non - answer ( or was dim ) to questions about how the company planned to restore public and employee trust and why it did n’t intermit the fleet sooner .
According to the Forbes write up , Vogt address Cruise ’s conclusion to halt driverless operations , telling stave that “ because a lot of this is in flux , we did make the decisiveness with GM to pause yield on the Origin . ”
GM clarified to TechCrunch that it will cease production on a small phone number of pre - commercial vehicle and then plan to temporarily pause product .
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“ More broadly speak , we believe independent vehicle will translate the way of life people move around the world , and the Origin is an of import part of the Ab journey — it ’s the first scalable vehicle ever designed specifically for autonomous rides and will make transportation more accessible , ” Chaiti Sen , a GM voice , severalise TechCrunch .
Vogt did n’t appear to mention layoffs in his all - hand meeting . However , during a meeting the week before , Vogt note to staff that layoffs could be arrive amid suspended operation , harmonize to TheNew York Times . With the news of the intermission in Origin , it ’s possible future layoff could affect both staff who bring in mathematical process and are now , fundamentally , grounded , and those who are working on Origin development .
In September , Vogt claimed that Cruise was “ just days away ” from receive the necessary approval to mass - produce the Origin . That commendation still has not come , and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not shared more details on the issue .
Cruise ’s boxy - looking vehicle build with no steering wheel or pedals — which is being jointly arise by GM , Cruise and Honda — is a core part of the company ’s scheme to surmount “ exponentially ” in cities across the U.S. , and even the public . Cruise began testing its Origins onpublic roads in Austinearlier this twelvemonth , and has made plans to launch an Origin - free-base robotaxi inspection and repair inDubaiandJapan .
reference told TechCrunch that Cruise is in possession of century of rootage vehicle . Vogt , harmonise to Forbes , said that fleet will be “ more than enough for the near - terminal figure when we are quick to storm affair back up . ”
Cruise did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
UPDATE : This article has been updated to let in a comment from GM .
