Cruise: A Self-Driving Car Company with a Turbulent History

Cruise is an American self-driving car company that was founded in 2013 by Kyle Vogt and Dan Kan. It is a subsidiary of General Motors, and it develops software and hardware for fully autonomous vehicles using modified Chevrolet Bolts. Here is a brief overview of Cruise’s history:

In 2013, Cruise started as a company that offered kits to retrofit vehicles with limited self-driving capabilities. However, it soon shifted its focus to creating a fully autonomous vehicle using the Nissan Leaf1

In 2015, Cruise received a permit to test self-driving vehicle technology from the California Department of Motor Vehicles1

In 2016, Cruise was acquired by General Motors for an undisclosed amount, estimated to be between $500 million and $1 billion. Cruise became the core of GM’s self-driving efforts, and it continued to operate independently123

In 2017, GM announced plans to invest $14 million to expand Cruise operations in California, adding an estimated 1,163 full-time employees by 20211

In 2018, Cruise unveiled the Cruise AV, a self-driving car without a steering wheel or pedals, and announced plans to launch a commercial ride-hailing service using the vehicle in 20194

In 2019, Cruise raised $7.25 billion from investors, including Honda, SoftBank, T. Rowe Price, and Walmart, increasing its valuation to $19 billion. Cruise also revealed the Cruise Origin, a self-driving shuttle designed for shared rides5

In 2020, Cruise became the first company to receive a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission to operate a driverless ride-hailing service. Cruise also partnered with Microsoft to use its Azure cloud platform for its self-driving software.

In 2021, Cruise acquired Voyage, a self-driving startup that operated in retirement communities, and announced plans to test its vehicles in Dubai and Japan. Cruise also received a permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to transport passengers in its driverless vehicles.

In 2022, Cruise launched its driverless ride-hailing service in San Francisco, offering free rides to select users. Cruise also expanded its testing to New York City and Houston.

In 2023, Cruise faced a major setback when a fatal crash involving one of its vehicles occurred in San Francisco, prompting the company to temporarily pause its driverless operations and investigate the incident. Kyle Vogt, the founder and CEO of Cruise, resigned in the wake of the safety scandal.