In response to the crisis, Cruise's chief executive, Kyle Vogt, admitted that the company had lost public confidence and outlined a strategy to regain it by emphasizing safety and honesty. Louise Zhang, vice president of safety, has been appointed as the interim chief safety officer. Meanwhile, Cruise's main competitor, Waymo, has been associated with fewer harmful incidents and has not faced the same backlash from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Key takeaways:
- General Motor's Cruise has contracted technology consultant Exponent and law firm Quinn Emanuel to investigate its management responses and technology following an accident on October 2.
- Cruise has suspended its driverless operations due to numerous accidents, including a critical injury to a jaywalking pedestrian on October 2.
- Insiders report that the company prioritizes program speed over safety, and the chief executive has admitted that Cruise has lost public confidence.
- Competitors, including Waymo, are concerned that Cruise's issues could lead to stricter regulations for all self-driving car businesses.