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Cruise's board has hired law firm Quinn Emanuel to review Cruise
management's responses to regulators investigating the Oct. 2
accident, and technology consultancy Exponent to review Cruise's
technology. The Cruise board's actions were first reported
Friday by the New York Times.
GM, in a statement Friday, said "we fully support the actions
that Cruise leadership is taking to ensure that it is putting
safety first and building trust and credibility with government
partners, regulators, and the broader community. Our commitment
to Cruise with the goal of commercialization remains steadfast.”
Federal and state safety regulators are investigating a series
of accidents involving driverless Cruise vehicles. California
regulators suspended the company's license to operate driverless
vehicles last month, saying the self-driving vehicles were a
risk to the public.
California regulators said Cruise officials had misrepresented
information about an accident in which a Cruise car struck a
pedestrian after she had been hit by a vehicle operated by a
human driver.
Federal regulators last month told Cruise they are investigating
incidents in which Cruise driverless cars appeared to fail to
yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration had previously opened an investigation
into incidents in which Cruise cars were struck from behind.
Cruise said last week it would pause all driverless operations
"while we take time to examine our processes, systems, and
tools."
GM Chief Executive Mary Barra, who also sits on Cruise's board,
has told investors Cruise could generate $50 billion in revenue
by 2030. The operation lost more than $700 million in the third
quarter of this year as it has increased spending to expand
operations to 15 U.S. cities.
Cruise last month announced plans to begin operations in Japan
in partnership with Honda.
Barra said last week GM would disclose more about its plans for
Cruise later this year, and told analysts "rest assured, we do
have funding plans that will support Cruise's expansion."
(Reporting by Joe White; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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