How GM's Cruise robotaxi bet derailed, turned into industry cautionary tale

GM's Cruise experienced a dramatic rise and fall in the autonomous vehicle industry, highlighted by its operations in San Francisco alongside rival Waymo. The company aimed to deploy robotaxis across the U. S. at an unprecedented scale, but it faced numerous operational challenges, including incidents that raised safety concerns. A pivotal incident in 2023 triggered a significant decline, transforming Cruise from a promising startup to a cautionary tale within a year.

Internal leadership struggles, particularly between Mary Barra and Dan Ammann, contributed to the turmoil. After Vogt returned as CEO, Cruise expanded its services to cities like Phoenix and Austin, achieving rapid operational launches. However, the aggressive growth strategy may have exacerbated existing issues. As Cruise aimed to redefine its vehicles and expand into new markets, the question remains whether it can recover from its setbacks. The situation underscores the volatile nature of the autonomous vehicle sector.