Mexican Media Brands
Tech, Regulatory Snags Slow GM Plan for Robo-Taxis
Regulatory and technical issues make it unlikely that General Motors Co. will meet its target of launching a driverless-taxi service by the end of this year, Automotive News says.
#regulations
Share
Regulatory and technical issues make it unlikely that General Motors Co. will meet its target of launching a driverless-taxi service by the end of this year, Automotive News says.
GM’s Cruise Automation unit aims to deploy fleets of fully autonomous shuttles that function without a driver in dense urban environments. But AN says a sluggish regulatory environment and the daunting technical challenges of robotic city driving are reining in GM’s plans.
Now, Cruise appears more likely to begin restricted service in one city, such as San Francisco—and with backup safety drivers on board, according to the report. The company emphasizes that the safety of its robotic cars is far more important than a self-declared timetable for introducing them.
GM petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 15 months ago for a waiver allowing it to operate as many as 2,500 fully autonomous taxis that lack a steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator. A response from NHTSA doesn’t appear likely until at least late this summer.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Carmakers Ask 10 States to Help Bolster EV Sales
Carmakers are asking for more support for electric cars from states that support California’s zero-emission-vehicle goals, Automotive News reports.
-
Study: How States Should Update Traffic Laws for Autonomous Cars
U.S. states should require that all automated cars have a licensed driver on board, suggests a study by the Governors Highway Safety Assn.
-
BMW Granted License to Test Self-Driving Cars in Shanghai
BMW AG has become the first foreign carmaker to win permission to test autonomous vehicles on public roads in China, according to the Shanghai Daily.
