Cruise, the self-driving unit of General Motors (GM), has experienced yet another major shake-up as its Senior Vice President of Autonomous Vehicle Platforms, Carl Jenkins, announced his resignation. Jenkins’ departure comes amidst a series of resignations and staff cuts at Cruise following a highly-publicized incident last year, where one of the company’s autonomous vehicles struck a pedestrian.
Although Jenkins did not provide specific reasons for his departure, he stated in a LinkedIn post that he may share his achievements at Cruise in the future. However, he emphasized that his future plans are different and under his own control.
This executive departure adds to a string of high-profile resignations at Cruise following the pedestrian accident. In November, former CEO Kyle Vogt resigned, followed immediately by co-founder Daniel Kan. Subsequently, in December, nine other executives were let go, including the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer. Cruise also downsized its workforce by nearly 25%.
The incident in which a Cruise self-driving vehicle injured a pedestrian led to the revocation of the company’s permit to operate autonomous vehicles and triggered ongoing investigations by both state and federal authorities. In response, GM announced plans to cut Cruise spending in half for 2024, with the intention of repositioning and relaunching the driverless ride-hailing company.
The recent wave of departures and restructuring at Cruise highlights the challenges and repercussions faced by companies in the autonomous vehicle industry. As the technology continues to evolve, it is crucial for companies to prioritize safety and regain public trust in order to move forward effectively.
FAQ Section:
1. Why did Carl Jenkins resign from Cruise?
– Jenkins did not provide specific reasons for his departure, but he stated that he may share his achievements at Cruise in the future. He emphasized that his future plans are different and under his own control.
2. Who else resigned from Cruise following the pedestrian accident?
– Following the accident, former CEO Kyle Vogt and co-founder Daniel Kan resigned. Additionally, nine other executives, including the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer, were let go.
3. How has Cruise responded to the incident and resignations?
– In response to the incident, GM announced plans to cut Cruise spending in half for 2024. This is part of their strategy to reposition and relaunch the driverless ride-hailing company.
4. What were the repercussions of the pedestrian accident?
– The pedestrian accident led to the revocation of Cruise’s permit to operate autonomous vehicles. State and federal authorities are currently conducting investigations into the incident.
Definitions:
1. Autonomous Vehicles: Vehicles capable of operating without human intervention using advanced technologies such as sensors, algorithms, and artificial intelligence.
2. Driverless ride-hailing: A service that provides transportation without the need for a human driver. Users can request a vehicle to pick them up and transport them to their desired destination.
Suggested Related Links:
1. GM Official Website
2. Cruise Official Website
The source of the article is from the blog windowsvistamagazine.es