Ridesharing giant Uber has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Cruise LLC, a self-driving car startup owned by General Motors. According to a joint release, Cruise will provide Uber with Chevy Bolt autonomous vehicles, with the service set to begin next year. The collaboration aims to introduce autonomous technology to consumers and cities worldwide, with a focus on safety and reliability.

The partnership comes as Cruise faces regulatory scrutiny and safety concerns following a series of incidents. Cruise had previously operated self-driving taxis in San Francisco until California withdrew its permit due to safety incidents, including two pedestrian accidents. The company also voluntarily suspended operations in other cities and recalled nearly 1000 vehicles in response to the investigation.

However, Cruise has made significant strides in addressing the safety concerns. The company resumed supervised autonomous driving in Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas, while also conducting testing in Dubai. Cruise is keen to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring safer streets and redefining urban mobility through the integration of driverless technology.

Uber's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, "As the largest mobility and delivery platform, we believe Uber can play an important role in helping to safely and reliably introduce autonomous technology. We're thrilled to partner with Cruise and look forward to launching next year." Uber had previously pursued autonomous vehicle technology and had partnered with Volvo, but ended the effort in 2018 following a fatal accident in Arizona.

General Motors acquired Cruise in 2016 and has allowed the company to operate independently. Cruise is currently developing a retrofitting toolkit to make Chevrolet Bolt vehicles autonomous, demonstrating its commitment to leveraging innovative technology and automotive excellence.

The exact timeline for the partnership and the deployment of self-driving vehicles through Uber's platform will depend on the ongoing federal investigation. Nevertheless, both companies are enthusiastic about the potential of autonomous driving, emphasizing the benefits of safe, reliable transportation and the transformative impact it could have on urban mobility.

Uber's Khosrowshahi predicted a "pretty long hybrid period as autonomous is developing and regulators are trying to figure out exactly how to regulate it" during the company's recent earnings call. This suggests that while autonomous technology is advancing, a gradual transition will likely be accompanied by regulatory considerations.

With Uber and Cruise joining forces, anticipation is high for the future of autonomous ridesharing. As the industry continues to evolve, this partnership aims to shape the path towards safer and more efficient urban transportation.