In a move to address ongoing safety investigations following an October accident, General Motors' Cruise autonomous vehicle unit has announced the dismissal of nine "key leaders." This shakeup comes as Cruise strives to regain trust and operate with the highest standards of safety, integrity, and accountability.

According to an internal message obtained by CNBC, the departures include leaders from Cruise's legal, government affairs, commercial operations, and safety and systems teams. GM and Cruise spokespeople have confirmed the authenticity of the message, emphasizing the need for new leadership to rebuild confidence in the company.

The decision to dismiss these leaders comes in the wake of an initial analysis of Cruise's response to an accident on October 2 involving one of their robotaxis in San Francisco. In this incident, a pedestrian was struck by another vehicle after being dragged by the Cruise robotaxi. Following reports of the accident, Cruise paused all roadway operations in the United States.

The company is also facing regulatory scrutiny and potential fines for potentially misleading or withholding information about the accident. Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt and Chief Product Officer Dan Kan have both resigned from the self-driving taxi company, indicating the seriousness of the situation.

GM CEO Mary Barra, who also serves as Chair of Cruise, has expressed a commitment to "righting the ship" at Cruise. To achieve this, the company has initiated two external safety reviews that will guide their future course of action. These reviews are expected to be completed in early 2024.

In a statement, GM emphasized that the personnel changes made by Cruise are necessary to move forward with a focus on accountability, trust, and transparency. General Motors reiterated its commitment to supporting Cruise in these efforts.

As the investigations continue and the landscape of autonomous vehicles evolves, General Motors and its Cruise unit are facing a crucial period of rebuilding trust and ensuring the highest safety standards in their operations. Stakeholders will closely monitor the outcomes of the ongoing safety reviews, as they will shape Cruise's path forward in the autonomous vehicle industry. Further updates on this breaking news will be provided as they become available.