Feb. 24, 2020—General Motors wants to deploy Cruise, its self-driving technology, but needs The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approval.
Cruise, a zero-emission electric vehicle, operates free of a human driver and comes without controls like steering wheels or brake pedals. The NHTSA, the regulatory branch charged with overseeing such requests, has authority to grant permission but needs to first review GMs petition before greenlighting the Cruise Origin vehicle.
"The submission of this petition signals that Cruise and GM are ready to build and deploy the Origin, here in America," Cruise wrote. “Origin will be a zero-emission, shared, electric vehicle—helping to reduce the nation’s reliance on oil.”
The Origin, which comfortably fits four passengers who sit across from one another in facing seats, “will help expand mobility options for seniors, people who are blind or have low vision, and other communities that have traditionally faced barriers in access to reliable transportation,” stated Cruise.
GM is expected to begin production in Detroit starting in late 2022 with a rollout of its first vehicles in 2023.
