SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – General Motors’ robotaxi unit Cruise unveiled a self-driving vehicle called Cruise WAV on Thursday. This vehicle is specifically designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. However, Cruise is still waiting for a key regulatory approval to build and deploy vehicles without human controls.
The Cruise WAV is based on the Origin driverless vehicle, which does not have a steering wheel or pedals and allows passengers to sit facing each other. Cruise had filed a petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) early last year, seeking permission to deploy up to 2,500 Origins annually. The decision from NHTSA is expected to be announced soon.
Cruise plans to launch the WAV with a pilot for a small group of users next year, pending regulatory approvals. In addition, closed-course testing of the vehicle will begin next month.
Ride-hailing firms, including robotaxi operators, have faced criticism for not having enough wheelchair-accessible vehicles available for disabled people. This often leads to shortages and significant wait times for individuals with disabilities.
The unveiling of the Cruise WAV comes at a crucial time for the company. Cruise and rival Alphabet’s Waymo recently received approval to operate their robotaxis day and night in San Francisco. They are also allowed to charge passengers, despite facing opposition from residents and city agencies concerned about safety and the potential disruption of life-saving operations of first responders.
Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
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