Crusie fined $1.5 million in connection with the crash of the decommissioned robotaxis

• Cruise was fined $1.5 million by the NHTSA for failing to disclose details about a robotaxi crash in 2023
• Cruise must meet with NHTSA quarterly for at least two years to provide updates on its robotaxi program
• Cruise has not said when its robotaxi service will be available again

General Motors-backed self-driving technology company Cruise was fined $1.5 million by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for failing to disclose full details about an accident involving a Cruise robotaxi last year, the agency said on Monday with.

The NHTSA has too handed Cruise a consent order This requires the company to meet with the agency quarterly to provide updates on the robotaxi program. The validity of the consent order is two years, although NHTSA has the option to extend it for an additional year.

The accident at the center of the problem occurred on October 2, 2023 in San Francisco, in which a pedestrian was thrown into the path of a Cruise robotaxis She was involved in a hit-and-run with a vehicle in the lane next to the robotaxi.

Cruise's robotaxi braked to avoid the impact, but still came into contact with the pedestrian. After an initial stop, the robotaxi continued another 20 feet to stop, which Cruise said was done to avoid further traffic safety issues.

This post-crash maneuver resulted in the robotaxi pulls the pedestrianand was not initially announced by Cruise. The NHTSA only became aware of this after requesting additional video footage of Cruise.

“It is critical for companies developing automated driving systems to prioritize safety and transparency from the outset,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said in a statement.

The fine and consent order does not affect further investigation by NHTSA into cases in which cruise robotaxis have struck pedestrians while crossing streets.

Cruise was forced to abandon his robotaxis in California following the 2023 crash after the state revoked the company's license. Cruise then took its robotaxi fleet out of service in other states, but began putting some of them back on the road in May, albeit only for testing purposes and always with a safety driver behind the wheel. The company has not yet said when its robot axes are expected to be back in operation without a safety driver.