General Motors-owned robotaxi company Cruise is making a $75,000 settlement offer to resolve an ongoing investigation by California regulators following a crash incident involving one of its vehicles. This incident had significant negative repercussions on the company’s operations and tarnished its reputation. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has been looking into the October 2 incident, which involved a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle. Cruise’s offer is not directed towards the victim but is an attempt to resolve the CPUC investigation.
The settlement offer, while its magnitude is uncertain, aligns with fines typically imposed on transportation companies. Public records indicate that the CPUC only collected a total of $175,000 in fines from transportation companies throughout the prior year. By offering this settlement, Cruise may be attempting to expedite the process of reinstating its permit to operate in California.
The October incident involved a female pedestrian being hit by one vehicle and subsequently dragged by a Cruise vehicle. The current condition of the woman is unknown. Shortly after the incident, the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked Cruise’s permit to operate driverless vehicles, leading to the suspension of all driverless operations in San Francisco and other cities. The fallout from the incident ultimately resulted in the resignation of CEO Kyle Vogt.
Cruise’s settlement offer also includes a commitment to share more data with the CPUC, emphasizing a focus on transparency and cooperation. The company aims to regain trust with the regulators and ensure the safety, equity, and accessibility of its autonomous vehicle service.
Cruise has recently undergone workforce reductions and experienced changes in its executive team. Demonstrators even called for the removal of a CPUC commissioner who had played a key role in granting Cruise and Waymo their operating permits. Additionally, General Motors filed a lawsuit against San Francisco, claiming that the city unfairly charged it for a business tax bill.
Through this settlement offer, Cruise seeks to resolve the investigation, rebuild trust with regulators, and move forward with its operations.
The source of the article is from the blog elblog.pl