(Reuters) – U.S. auto safety regulators announced on Tuesday that they are launching a preliminary evaluation into approximately 594 vehicles owned by Cruise LLC, the self-driving unit of General Motors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated the investigation after receiving reports of incidents involving Cruise’s Automated Driving System (ADS). These incidents suggest that the vehicles may not have exercised appropriate caution when encountering pedestrians.
According to the NHTSA, this investigation is the latest in a series of actions taken regarding the safety of self-driving vehicles. The agency is committed to ensuring the safety of all road users and will investigate any potential safety-related defects or non-compliance issues.
The probe comes at a crucial time for Cruise LLC, which has been aggressively working towards launching a commercial ride-hailing service using its self-driving vehicles. The company has invested heavily in developing and testing autonomous car technology, aiming to lead the market in self-driving solutions.
General Motors acquired Cruise LLC in 2016 to bolster its autonomous vehicle research efforts. Since then, Cruise has made significant progress in developing its self-driving technology, attracting major investments from corporations like SoftBank and Honda.
However, incidents such as those being investigated by the NHTSA can impact public confidence in the safety and reliability of self-driving technology. With multiple reports of accidents and near misses involving autonomous vehicles, regulators are under pressure to ensure the proper safeguards are in place.
The preliminary evaluation initiated by the NHTSA will investigate the incidents and determine whether there are any defects in Cruise’s Automated Driving System. If the evaluation reveals any safety concerns, it could lead to a full-scale investigation and potential regulatory action.
Cruise LLC is expected to fully cooperate with the NHTSA during the investigation and provide any necessary information or data to support the evaluation process.
As this investigation unfolds, it highlights the challenges and complexities surrounding the development and deployment of self-driving technology. Ensuring the safety of pedestrians and other road users must be a top priority as autonomous vehicles continue to evolve and potentially become a significant part of our transportation system.
(Reporting by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
