U.S. auto safety regulators have launched an investigation into whether Cruise, a self-driving car from General Motors (GM.N), is using its autonomous robotaxis to protect pedestrians enough.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that it has received two reports from Cruise regarding incidents involving injuries to pedestrians and has found two additional incidents via online footage.
The NHTSA stated that reports indicate that Cruise cars are "encroaching on pedestrians present in or entering roadways, including pedestrian crosswalks, in the proximity of the intended travel path of the vehicles," and that the issue "could increase the risk of a collision with a pedestrian, which may result in severe injury or death."
A pedestrian was hit by a hit-and-run motorist on October 2 in San Francisco. After being flung into an adjacent lane, the pedestrian was struck again by a Cruise robotaxi, which was unable to stop in time and temporarily detained the pedestrian.
The preliminary inquiry, which includes approximately 594 Cruise vehicles, is the first step before the agency may seek to order a recall.
GM spends roughly $2 billion every year on Cruise, but the company says it represents a "giant growth opportunity." GM CEO Mary Barra reaffirmed in June that Cruise could produce $50 billion in annual sales by 2030.
According to a representative for Cruise, the firm "has consistently cooperated with each of NHTSA's requests for information" and is in constant communication with the agency.
The NHTSA launched a separate safety investigation of the Cruise cars' autonomous driving technology in December of last year in response to allegations of two injuries sustained in rear-end collisions. According to NHTSA, cruise cars "may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilised."
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced in August that it was looking into Cruise-related accidents in San Francisco following a collision involving a Cruise robotaxi and an emergency vehicle. Cruise obliged the DMV's order to remove half of the company's robotaxis from service.
Cruise filed a petition in February 2022 asking for authorization to use up to 2,500 autonomous cars per year that are devoid of human controls like steering wheels. After announcing in July that it will make a decision "in the coming weeks," NHTSA stated on Tuesday that the petition is still being reviewed.
Despite significant backlash from local authorities and people, the California Public Utilities Commission voted in August to approve robotaxis from Cruise and Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Waymo to drive around the clock.
