Recently, Uber announced a strategic partnership with autonomous taxi company Cruise, planning to offer self-driving ride services through Uber's app within next year.
This means that users might see Cruise's self-driving vehicles as an option when choosing a ride, especially under "qualified" travel needs. This is another significant move by Uber in the autonomous driving field, following previous collaborations with Waymo and a long-term agreement with autonomous truck company Aurora.
Cruise's autonomous taxi service was suspended in October last year due to an incident where a Cruise vehicle dragged a pedestrian. Afterward, Cruise resumed operations on the streets but still requires a safety driver. Tiffany Testo, a spokesperson for Cruise, stated that the collaboration with Uber will commence after Cruise restores its autonomous ride service. Although the specific service cities were not disclosed, Testo mentioned that users can expect to see this service in cities like Phoenix, Dallas, and Houston.
The partnership between Uber and Cruise aims not only to expand the options for autonomous rides but also to further promote the adoption and development of autonomous driving technology. Despite other competitors in the market, such as Motional, whose robot taxi service was suspended in May, the collaboration between Uber and Cruise becomes even more crucial. Meanwhile, there is anticipation for Tesla's upcoming autonomous taxi event, scheduled for October 10.
The collaboration between Uber and Cruise brings more possibilities for future travel, offering users the opportunity to experience more convenient self-driving services. With technological advancements and policy improvements, autonomous travel is expected to become a part of everyday life.
Key Points:
- 🚗 Uber and Cruise have formed a multi-year strategic partnership, launching self-driving ride services next year.
- 🏙️ Services are expected to be available in cities like Phoenix, Dallas, and Houston.
- 🛑 Cruise previously suspended services due to a safety incident but has since resumed with safety drivers.