Manual Data Collection Underway in Seattle and Washington D.C.
Cruise, the self-driving subsidiary of General Motors, has begun manual data collection in Seattle and Washington D.C., marking the first step towards launching commercial services in these cities. This move comes as Cruise continues to expand its operations across the United States.
Challenges in San Francisco
Despite this progress, Cruise is facing challenges in San Francisco, where it had initially planned to launch its robotaxi service. The company has been dealing with regulatory issues and public backlash, which has delayed the launch of its commercial service in the city.
Expansion Plans
Cruise’s expansion plans are ambitious, with the company aiming to launch its services in multiple cities across the United States. In addition to Seattle and Washington D.C., Cruise has already begun testing its vehicles in several other cities, including Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee.
Cities Where Cruise is Currently Testing or Launching Services
Cruise’s expansion plans are not limited to these two new cities. The company is currently testing or launching services in the following cities:
- Phoenix, Arizona: Cruise launched its robotaxi service in Chandler, a city southeast of Phoenix, in December 2022. In early August, the company expanded its radius in the Phoenix area by 20x to include Tempe and Scottsdale.
- Austin, Texas: Cruise began testing its vehicles in Austin at the end of 2022. The company currently offers a free driverless service in downtown and central Austin, including the University of Texas campus, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Houston, Texas: Cruise started supervised testing of AVs in Houston in May, meaning testing with a human safety driver in the car.
- Dallas, Texas: Cruise also began supervised testing of AVs in Dallas in May.
- Las Vegas, Nevada: Cruise announced that it has begun manual data collection in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and more across Clark County, Nevada.
- Miami, Florida: Cruise announced in July that it had begun initial testing and data collection in Miami.
- Nashville, Tennessee: Cruise announced plans to expand its robotaxi service to Nashville last week.
- Charlotte, North Carolina: Cruise finished its preliminary testing of driverless cars in Charlotte and began initial tests in Raleigh last week.
Background on Cruise’s Expansion Plans
Cruise has been working towards expanding its operations across the United States for several years. The company has made significant progress in recent months, with its robotaxi service launching in several cities. Despite facing challenges in San Francisco, Cruise remains committed to its expansion plans and is expected to continue growing its operations in the coming months.
Conclusion
Cruise’s expansion into Seattle and Washington D.C. marks a significant milestone for the company as it continues to push forward with its ambitious plans to revolutionize transportation across the United States. While challenges persist, Cruise remains committed to delivering safe and reliable robotaxi services to communities nationwide.
