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Cruise Releases Third-Party Findings Regarding October 2

In a blog post, Cruise published the detailed Quinn Emanuel report on the October 2nd crash where a pedestrian was struck by a Cruise AV after a hit-and-run incident. Despite Cruise's claim of no intentional deceit, the report uncovers procedural and leadership shortcomings, leading to misinformation and incomplete disclosures to regulators and the media. This resulted in the suspension of Cruise's driverless permits. Changes including high-level employee departures and operational overhauls are being implemented.

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Washington Post – DOJ and SEC investigate GM-owned self-driving car company Cruise

The DOJ and SEC are investigating Cruise, a GM-owned autonomous car company, following an incident in October where a car hit and dragged a pedestrian. This comes after the California DMV suspended Cruise's permits. The company, which paused its driverless testing, is cooperating with authorities and released a report on the crash.

Read MoreWashington Post – DOJ and SEC investigate GM-owned self-driving car company Cruise

The Robot Report – San Francisco files lawsuit to pump brakes on robotaxis

On December 11th 2023 San Francisco sued California's Public Utilities Commission to limit robotaxis, following safety incidents with autonomous vehicles (AVs) like those from Cruise and Waymo. The suit seeks to review and revoke permits that allowed unchecked expansion and demands better safety measures and regulations. Although Cruise lost its permits, Waymo, expanding to LA, remains affected. Waymo has challenged the city's appeal, emphasizing its commitment to safe operations.

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Washington Post – San Francisco sues California over ‘unsafe,’ ‘disruptive’ self-driving cars

San Francisco is suing a state commission for letting autonomous vehicle companies, like Waymo and GM's Cruise, operate without strict regulation, following numerous safety incidents. The city's action reflects growing concerns over self-driving cars, which were initially welcomed. The legal challenge aims to compel more rigorous safety standards and reporting for these vehicles, amidst fears they're compromising public safety and disrupting emergency services. Waymo remains operational, while Cruise lost its permit after a crash.

Read MoreWashington Post – San Francisco sues California over ‘unsafe,’ ‘disruptive’ self-driving cars

Cruise hits, runs over, and drags pedestrian, severely injuring them

Detailed crash analysis (completed 1/23/2024, before Quinn report was made available): On 10/2/23 a pedestrian in San Francisco crossed 5th Street at Market Street in the crosswalk as the light turned red. The pedestrian was first hit by a human-driven vehicle, remained on the hood for a distance, and then fell into the adjacent lane. A Cruise robotaxi in the adjacent lane hit the pedestrian and stopped. The Cruise vehicle then proceeded another 20 feet, dragging the pedestrian underneath the vehicle. The pedestrian was severely injured by the Cruise robotaxi. Regulators shut down Cruise service for providing misinformation.

Read MoreCruise hits, runs over, and drags pedestrian, severely injuring them

MIT Technology Review – What’s next for robotaxis in 2024

Robotaxi companies face multiple challenges in 2023, including rebuilding public trust after accidents and proving their profitability against conventional ride services. In San Francisco, Cruise's accident and workforce cuts highlighted industry risks, while Waymo expands cautiously. Despite high costs and regulatory hurdles, robotaxis operate in select US and Chinese cities. Europe lags, focusing on mass transit. The industry wrestles with safety transparency and pressure to reduce costs, striving to remain viable amidst rapid technological and competitive landscapes.

Read MoreMIT Technology Review – What’s next for robotaxis in 2024

Electrek – Tesla finally releases FSD v12, its last hope for self-driving

Elon Musk claims Tesla's FSD Beta v12 update brings a shift to end-to-end neural networks, replacing vast lines of explicit code. If successful, the AI-driven system may fulfill longstanding self-driving promises. Skeptics anticipate rollout issues, as prior updates have been unpredictable. The v12 is now rolling out to select early beta testers, with Tesla's credibility in FSD on the line.

Read MoreElectrek – Tesla finally releases FSD v12, its last hope for self-driving

Teslarati – Waymo has applied to expand driverless operations to Los Angeles

Waymo is poised to enter Los Angeles as it seeks CPUC approval to extend its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, while simultaneously collaborating with local stakeholders. Amidst previous expansions and 24-hour operations in San Francisco, competitor Cruise faces setbacks following an accident and permit revocation, highlighting Waymo's leading position in the race for driverless market dominance as noted by Dan O’Dowd, a critic of Tesla's FSD.

Read MoreTeslarati – Waymo has applied to expand driverless operations to Los Angeles

Automotive News – Cruise casts shadow on self-driving tech at CES 2024

See full original article by Pete Bigelow at Automotive News. Cruise-related headwinds dampened the autonomous outlook in some quarters, but trucks may keep on rolling. LAS VEGAS — Self-driving vehicles and advances in automated-driving technology have been a CES staple since Audi drove an A7 autonomously from San Francisco to…

Read MoreAutomotive News – Cruise casts shadow on self-driving tech at CES 2024

SF Standard – State Bill Would Give Cities Like San Francisco the Power To Regulate Robotaxis 

See full original article in the SF Standard by Kevin Truong. Editors note: the text of SB-915 has some very good specific language: Cruise likely does not currently have the ability to fight against this legislation. As robotaxi companies Waymo and Cruise expanded their services across San Francisco last year, one of the…

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SF Chronicle – S.F. robotaxi rides exponentially increased in the city — even after severe crash

See full original article in the SF Chronicle by Ricardo Cano Autonomous ride-hailing in San Francisco surged dramatically last year after state regulators granted Cruise and Waymo’s unrestricted expansion in the city as more people tried riding in self-driving cars, most of them gravitating toward Waymo taxis. Waymo accounted for more than 80% of the…

Read MoreSF Chronicle – S.F. robotaxi rides exponentially increased in the city — even after severe crash