The race to self-driving is a rapidly evolving field with many players competing fiercely. While Waymo appears to have taken a lead, Cruise is struggling after several accidents.
Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, was forced to recall its 950 self-driving cars and lay off 900 employees after several accidents in San Francisco. The company was also banned from offering its self-driving services in California.
Waymo, on the other hand, continues to make progress. The Alphabet-owned company has signed a new partnership with Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and added its vehicles to the Uber app.
Cruise’s downfall is due to a number of factors, including two accidents in San Francisco in 2023 involving different vehicles. General Motors also discontinued production of the Origin shuttle intended for Cruise.
The future of self-driving is still uncertain. Waymo appears well-positioned to take a lead, but other players, such as Mercedes, Tesla, and JiYue, are also offering vehicles with self-driving features.
The race to self-driving is far from over. The accidents at Cruise show that the technology is not yet fully mature. However, the progress made by Waymo and other players suggests that the commercialization of self-driving vehicles is imminent.
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