The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has wrapped up one of two investigations into General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicles after the company initiated a recall.
The NHTSA’s inquiry, which commenced in December 2022, was triggered by reports of abrupt braking and complete halts from Cruise’s autonomous vehicles. According to documents released Thursday, the investigation analyzed 7,632 hard braking reports over nearly two years, identifying 10 incidents involving crashes and four injuries. However, no crashes were linked to inappropriate stopping.
On August 9, Cruise agreed to recall all 1,194 of its robotaxis due to issues with unexpected braking. The company has since addressed the problem with a software update designed to enhance the vehicle’s perception, prediction, and planning capabilities. This update has reportedly mitigated the risk of unexpected braking, leading NHTSA to close the preliminary evaluation.
“NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has concluded this preliminary evaluation following the recall and analysis of data showing a decrease in hard braking incidents post-software update,” the agency stated.
Cruise expressed its commitment to improving trust and transparency in autonomous vehicle technology, stating, “We are dedicated to enhancing our collaboration with NHTSA and advancing our technology responsibly.”
However, NHTSA continues to investigate reports of Cruise vehicles encroaching on pedestrian areas, including crosswalks. This ongoing investigation follows a November recall of 950 vehicles prompted by a serious incident on October 2, where a Cruise vehicle collided with a pedestrian who had been struck by another vehicle. This accident, which resulted in critical injuries to the pedestrian, led to a suspension of driverless operations and a subsequent license revocation by California’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
The incident also triggered a significant management overhaul at Cruise, including a change in the company’s CEO.