The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a consent order with Cruise, the automated driving company majority-owned by General Motors, over incomplete crash reports.
The order addresses Cruise’s failure to disclose full details of a crash on October 2, 2023, when a driverless Cruise vehicle dragged a pedestrian approximately 20 feet before stopping.
NHTSA’s consent order includes a $1.5 million penalty and increased oversight of Cruise’s safety practices. Cruise is required to implement a corrective action plan to improve its compliance with crash reporting standards and submit regular updates to NHTSA. The company must report details such as vehicle miles traveled, the number of driverless vehicles operating, and any software updates affecting automated driving systems.
“It is vitally important for companies developing automated driving systems to prioritize safety and transparency from the start,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman.
The order’s initial term is two years, with the option to extend it for an additional year. Cruise and NHTSA will hold quarterly meetings to review progress. The order does not affect other ongoing NHTSA investigations into Cruise’s operations.
