Cruise, the autonomous vehicle company owned by General Motors, has stopped production of its fully driverless vehicle, the Origin. This decision comes shortly after the company suspended its robotaxi operations nationwide following several safety incidents.
CEO Kyle Vogt announced the production halt during a staff meeting, according to audio obtained by Forbes. The Origin, a purpose-built autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals, was intended to be the cornerstone of Cruise’s robotaxi service. Unveiled three years ago and manufactured at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck factory, the Origin has yet to see widespread deployment. Cruise has been utilizing modified Chevy Bolts equipped with traditional controls for its autonomous testing while awaiting regulatory approval for the Origin’s unique design.
Cruise OriginThe Cruise Origin, a fully autonomous vehicle without traditional controls.
Vogt stated that “hundreds” of Origin vans have already been produced and will be deployed “when we are ready to ramp things back up.” A GM spokesperson confirmed the “temporary pause” in Origin production, emphasizing its continued importance in their autonomous vehicle strategy as the “first scalable vehicle designed specifically for autonomous rides.”
This production halt follows Cruise’s nationwide suspension of testing on October 26th. Just days prior, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended Cruise’s robotaxi permit after several concerning incidents. One particularly serious event involved a woman being trapped under a Cruise vehicle’s wheel after being struck by another car in San Francisco. Other incidents included Cruise vehicles blocking traffic and even becoming stuck in wet concrete.
These incidents prompted Cruise to prioritize regaining public trust. The company stated, “The most important thing for us right now is to take steps to rebuild public trust. Part of this involves taking a hard look inwards and at how we do work at Cruise, even if it means doing things that are uncomfortable or difficult.”
Cruise’s future plans, including the resumption of Origin production for robotaxi and delivery services, remain uncertain pending a thorough internal assessment. The company’s ability to address safety concerns and regain regulatory approval will be crucial for the Origin’s eventual deployment.
