In a recent announcement, General Motors (GM) has revealed that its autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, will no longer pursue the development of the driverless pod design known as the Origin. Instead, Cruise will shift its focus towards utilizing the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EVs for its robotaxi service.

The Cruise Origin, characterized by its unconventional box-on-wheels design, was initially intended to revolutionize ride-hailing with its fully driverless capabilities. However, GM acknowledged in a letter to investors that the challenge of gaining approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for such a distinct design proved to be too significant.

Originally planned for a 2022 deployment, the Cruise Origin faced setbacks both due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the inherent difficulties in developing autonomous vehicles. Furthermore, a tragic incident occurred in 2023 when a Cruise robotaxi was involved in an accident that resulted in the injury of a pedestrian, leading to the suspension of Cruise's operations in California.

As a result, Cruise has decided to turn its attention towards the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt, which will be more cost-effective compared to the Origin. The new Bolt model will feature an upgrade to GM's popular compact electric vehicle, leveraging the cheaper Ultium battery platform. The Bolt EV, previously GM's top-selling electric vehicle, temporarily went out of production last year at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan to facilitate the transition towards electric pickup truck production.

Unfortunately, GM has now postponed the release of its electric pickup trucks until mid-2026, indicating that the company, like Ford, underestimated the market demand for expensive electric trucks. The delay in the production of electric pickups means that GM will not achieve its initial goal of manufacturing one million electric vehicles by 2025.

GM's decision to shift its focus from the Origin to the next-generation Bolt EVs showcases the company's adaptability in the face of challenges. By capitalizing on the advancements of the Bolt, Cruise aims to continue its endeavors in the autonomous vehicle market, albeit with a different approach.

It remains to be seen how the transition to the Bolt EVs will impact Cruise's plans to deploy fully autonomous vehicles for ride-hailing services. With the development of self-driving technology still progressing, GM will certainly continue to navigate the complex landscape of autonomous mobility and strive for a future of safe and efficient transportation.