Almost a week after the Cruise company, together with Waymo, another similar company, obtained authorization for its robotaxis to operate with greater flexibility on the streets of San Francisco, the challenges and issues that have arisen have prompted Cruise to take drastic action. The company announced that it will reduce its fleet of robotaxis by 50%as confirmed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles in an interview with CNBC.
Cruise’s autonomous vehicles were involved in several accidents in San Francisco this week, which triggered a series of concerns. In these incidents, the self-driving cars appeared to have difficulty maneuvering through intersections, even colliding with other vehicles, such as the case in which one of the cars collided with a fire truck on Thursday night.
This fleet reduction represents a setback for Cruise, which had begun offering a paid robotaxis service in San Francisco after receiving approval to expand its operations. driverless along with Alphabet’s Waymo. This approval allowed both companies to transport paying passengers 24 hours a day throughout the city. Cruise, which currently operates on a waiting list, was in a favorable position to lead this new market.
The debate over driverless vehicles has been raging in San Francisco, with arguments for and against. Opponents allege that these vehicles are dangerous and can interfere with the operations of fire and rescue teams. On the other hand, advocates argue that the technology is innovative and promises to make mobility in the city more accessible and affordable.
In response to recent incidents, A Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) spokesperson confirmed that they are investigating the incidents involving Cruise’s vehicles in San Francisco.. DMV is in communication with Cruise and law enforcement authorities to clarify the facts. As an interim measure, Cruise has been asked to reduce its active fleet by 50% while the investigation is carried out and necessary corrections are implemented to improve road safety.
Cruise has agreed to this reduction and commits to having no more than 50 of its autonomous vehicles operational during the day and no more than 150 at night.. This marks a significant change from their previous status, as in August they had stated that they were operating with 300 vehicles at night and 100 during the day.
Cruise’s San Francisco general manager, Greg Dietrerich, said in a blog post that the accident in which a Cruise vehicle collided with a fire truck had multiple contributing factors, including the presence of buildings at the intersection that made it difficult to see. In addition, he pointed out that the fire truck was traveling in the wrong lane and running a red light.
Dietrerich claimed that the company will continue to collaborate with regulators and municipal departments to improve interactions with autonomous vehicles and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the future. Cruise’s fleet had been involved in a number of incidents over the past week, including a fire truck crash, a vehicle stuck in concrete and a self-driving car with a passenger being struck by another driver. Cruise alleges that the driver in that latest incident ran a red light. Over the previous weekend, several Cruise vehicles created congestion and slowed traffic in the vicinity of an outdoor music festival.
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