Cruise Control: GM Shifts Gears, Leading to Massive Layoffs at Autonomous Vehicle Pioneer
Cruise lays off nearly 50% of staff, including CEO, shifting from robotaxis to personal AVs in a major AV industry shift.
Matilda
Cruise Control: GM Shifts Gears, Leading to Massive Layoffs at Autonomous Vehicle Pioneer
Cruise, the once-promising autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is drastically scaling back its operations, laying off nearly 50% of its workforce, including CEO Marc Whitten and several other top executives. This dramatic downsizing comes after parent company General Motors (GM) pulled the plug on Cruise's ambitious robotaxi program, opting instead to double down on its own Super Cruise driver-assistance system and the development of personal autonomous vehicles. This strategic shift by GM marks a significant turning point in the AV industry, signaling a potential recalibration of priorities away from large-scale, ride-hailing robotaxi services and towards a more gradual integration of autonomous technology into personal vehicles. The move raises questions about the future of robotaxis and underscores the complex challenges and immense costs associated with developing and deploying fully autonomous vehicles. The Downfall of a Robotaxi Dream: Cruise's journey from a high-flying AV st…
