Published

GM Buys Autonomous Vehicle Software Startup

General Motors Co. is acquiring Cruise Automation Inc., a three-year-old startup in San Francisco that specializes in technology for self-driving cars.
#robotics

Share

General Motors Co. is acquiring Cruise Automation Inc., a three-year-old startup in San Francisco that specializes in technology for self-driving cars.

Terms were not disclosed. GM expects the deal to be completed between April and June.

Cruise developed a roof-mounted pod that could give certain Audi vehicles the ability to drive on highways autonomously. But the capabilities of the $10,000 feature were limited, and the company refocused on more advanced technologies for driverless cars.

GM, which has been following the company for two years, says Cruise will maintain its San Francisco office but become part of GM’s new Michigan-based Autonomous Vehicle Development Team. The unit is headed by Doug Parks, vice of autonomous technology and vehicle execution.

The Cruise Automation acquisition is GM’s latest move to explore personal mobility options. So far this year it has acquired a 9% stake in on-demand rider provider Lyft Inc., acquired some assets of ride-share pioneer Sidecar and introduced its own Maven car-sharing brand.

RELATED CONTENT

  • On Audi and Volvo's Green Initiatives, Bentley Design and more

    Audi takes to the river to reduce plastic waste, Volvo focuses on a new category of consumers, Bentley once used a Bob Ross-approach during styling development, why Ford’s BlueOval City is the past brought to today, and some new terms that you should keep in mind

  • Ford Invests $25 Million More at Kentucky Truck

    To prepare the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant to launch the Lincoln Navigator and the Ford Expedition last fall, Ford invested approximately $900 million in its Kentucky Truck Plant facility to launch the Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition.

  • Cobots: 14 Things You Need to Know

    What jobs do cobots do well? How is a cobot programmed? What’s the ROI? We asked these questions and more to four of the leading suppliers of cobots. 

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions