🧐 ProPicks AI October update is out now! See which stocks made the listPick Stocks with AI

GM's Cruise self-driving unit to pay $1.5 million fine over crash disclosure

Published 09/30/2024, 11:14 AM
Updated 09/30/2024, 03:56 PM
© Reuters. A self-driving GM Bolt EV is seen during a media event where Cruise, GM's autonomous car unit, showed off its self-driving cars in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage/File Photo
GM
-

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Monday that General Motors (NYSE:GM)' self-driving car unit Cruise will pay a $1.5 million fine after it failed to disclose details of a serious October 2023 crash involving a pedestrian.

Under the settlement, Cruise must submit to NHTSA a corrective action plan on how it will improve its compliance with reporting of serious incidents and face enhanced reporting requirements for at least two years.

Cruise also faces ongoing investigations by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission following the accident in which one of its robotaxis in San Francisco struck a pedestrian after she was hit by another vehicle and dragged her 20 feet (6.1 meters).

In October 2023, Cruise employees tried to convince NHTSA not to open an investigation into the injury incident and submitted reports that failed to disclose the pedestrian had been dragged, a report commissioned by GM said.

Cruise Chief Safety Officer Steve Kenner said the agreement with the agency "is a step forward in a new chapter for Cruise, building on our progress under new leadership, improved processes and culture, and a firm commitment to greater transparency with our regulators."

NHTSA said Cruise submitted several incomplete reports for crashes involving automated driving systems including two tied to the October crash.

It discovered Cruise omitted details from the October 2023 crash reports after viewing video it requested from Cruise, which has also amended four other reports to provide additional detail on other crashes, the agency said.

NHTSA's investigation into whether Cruise is taking sufficient precautions with its autonomous robotaxis to safeguard pedestrians remains open.

In August, Cruise recalled 1,200 robotaxis over hard braking issues following a NHTSA probe into the safety of their autonomous driving systems.

GM said in July it would indefinitely suspend plans to use its self-driving Origin vehicle that does not have a steering wheel.

© Reuters. A self-driving GM Bolt EV is seen during a media event where Cruise, GM's autonomous car unit, showed off its self-driving cars in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 28, 2017. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage/File Photo

In response to the October accident and subsequent investigations, Cruise's CEO resigned last year and General Motors subsequently announced plans to scale back spending on the self-driving unit.

The California Public Utilities Commission imposed the maximum penalty of $112,500 on Cruise for its failure to promptly provide complete information to the commission about the crash.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.