In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are: GM,Cruise Strategy, Aurora,Teledyne, FLIR, Mobileye, Innoviz, U Power, aiMotive, Sony and Asahi Kasei.
In this Article
GM Stops Autonomous Driving Cruise Strategy to Focus on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
General Motors (GM) is reshaping its autonomous driving strategy by prioritizing the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as part of its path toward fully autonomous personal vehicles. The company will integrate its Cruise LLC and GM technical teams to create a unified approach, transitioning away from funding Cruise’s robotaxi initiatives due to market challenges and resource demands.
Key Highlights:
- ADAS Focus: GM plans to enhance its Super Cruise hands-free driving feature, which is available on over 20 vehicle models and logs more than 10 million miles monthly.
- Strategic Integration: Combining GM and Cruise teams aims to leverage GM’s scale, manufacturing strength, and Cruise’s innovation in autonomy.
- Discontinuing Robotaxi Development: GM will cease robotaxi investments, reallocating resources to personal autonomous vehicles.
- Financial Impact: A restructuring of Cruise operations is expected to reduce GM’s annual spending by over $1 billion starting in 2025.
- Ownership Expansion: GM, which owns 90% of Cruise, plans to increase its stake to over 97% and streamline Cruise’s operations post-restructuring.
This strategy reflects GM’s commitment to disciplined capital allocation while advancing customer-centric autonomous solutions.
Teamsters Respond to GM’s Decision to Halt Funding for Cruise AV Development
Peter Finn, Teamsters Vice President and President of Joint Council 7, commended General Motors for halting funding for its autonomous vehicle (AV) subsidiary, Cruise, citing it as an acknowledgment of the safety risks posed by robotaxis. He highlighted incidents involving Cruise vehicles, such as endangering pedestrians, blocking emergency responders, and causing traffic disruptions, as evidence of their dangers. Finn criticized other AV companies like Waymo and Zoox for similarly jeopardizing public safety and threatening jobs reliant on driving. He urged regulatory agencies to strengthen enforcement of AV regulations to safeguard roads, protect jobs, and ensure accountability from tech companies. Teamsters Joint Council 7 represents 100,000 members in Northern California, the Central Valley, and Northern Nevada.
Aurora Innovation Opens Advanced Lidar Facility in Bozeman to Propel Autonomous Trucking
Aurora Innovation, Inc., a leader in autonomous trucking, has inaugurated a new 78,000-square-foot office and testing facility on Montana State University’s Innovation Campus in Bozeman, Montana. This state-of-the-art facility, equipped with advanced R&D labs, cleanrooms, testing garages, and collaboration spaces, will support the continued development of Aurora’s proprietary FirstLight Lidar technology.
Key Highlights:
- Strategic Location: The facility leverages Montana State University’s expertise in photonics, fostering innovation in lidar technology for autonomous trucks.
- Economic Impact: The expansion underscores Aurora’s investment in Montana, creating jobs and strengthening the state’s photonics sector.
- Leadership and Collaboration: The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured Montana Governor Gianforte, Bozeman Mayor Terry Cunningham, and Aurora CEO Chris Urmson, celebrating the collaborative efforts that made the expansion possible.
Technological Milestones:
Aurora’s Bozeman team focuses on advancing FirstLight Lidar, capable of detecting objects over 450 meters away, a critical feature for autonomous highway driving. Aurora’s lidar-equipped trucks are already hauling freight in Texas, with a commercial launch planned for April 2025.
This facility reinforces Aurora’s commitment to innovation, regional development, and the future of autonomous freight transportation.
Teledyne FLIR OEM and VSI Labs Test New Pedestrian AEB Standard, Highlighting the Role of Thermal Cameras in Improving Safety
Teledyne FLIR OEM, in collaboration with VSI Labs, recently released test results for the new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 127, which mandates pedestrian automatic emergency braking (PAEB) systems in passenger vehicles. VSI Labs’ research vehicle, equipped with Teledyne FLIR’s latest AEB thermal camera, passed all testing scenarios, while three new 2024 vehicles failed multiple nighttime tests.
FMVSS No. 127, set to take effect in 2029, requires PAEB systems to detect pedestrians in various lighting conditions and at higher vehicle speeds, a critical advancement as pedestrian fatalities remain high, particularly at night. The study demonstrated that thermal cameras, with their ability to detect beyond headlight range, improve safety by extending braking distances, enhancing detection accuracy, and reducing false positives.
Title: VSI Labs Testing Reveals Superior Nighttime Pedestrian Detection with Thermal-Fused AEB Systems
VSI Labs conducted tests comparing a thermal-fused pedestrian automatic emergency braking (PAEB) system on a Ford Fusion Hybrid research vehicle with three 2024 state-of-the-art commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) PAEB systems. The thermal-fused system, which included Teledyne FLIR’s longwave infrared (LWIR) automotive thermal camera, HD radar, and visible camera, outperformed COTS systems, passing all nighttime tests while the others failed multiple scenarios.
Both systems passed daytime tests, but the thermal-fused AEB showed superior nighttime performance, demonstrating its ability to detect pedestrians in low visibility conditions such as darkness, glare, and fog. VSI Labs recommended using thermally active pedestrian test mannequins for more accurate future PAEB testing. These findings highlight the importance of thermal cameras for meeting FMVSS No. 127 requirements and improving pedestrian safety by extending braking distances and enhancing detection accuracy.
Mobileye and Innoviz Partner to Advance Autonomous Vehicle Platform with LiDAR Integration
Mobileye has partnered with Innoviz Technologies to integrate Innoviz’s advanced LiDAR sensors into its Mobileye Drive™ platform, a Level 4 autonomous driving system used globally by major automakers such as VW Commercial Vehicles and Holon. The agreement enhances the platform’s scalability and reduces complexity for autonomous vehicles, including robotaxis, public transport, and delivery services. Start of Production is set for 2026. This collaboration leverages Innoviz’s cutting-edge LiDAR technology alongside Mobileye’s imaging radars and cameras to deliver safer and more reliable autonomous driving solutions, accelerating the adoption of autonomous vehicles worldwide.
U Power Launches Autonomous Battery-Swapping Logistics Vehicle, Advancing Green Logistics
U Power Limited, a leading EV battery solution provider in China, has unveiled an AI-driven autonomous battery-swapping logistics vehicle that has completed road testing. This innovation marks a milestone in sustainable logistics, integrating autonomous driving with UOTTA’s automated battery-swapping system for seamless, unmanned energy replenishment. Targeting last-mile, regional, and long-haul logistics, the system enhances operational efficiency with real-time AI-based decision-making and cloud connectivity, reducing green logistics costs by over 46%. U Power is engaging with global logistics firms to expand the deployment of this revolutionary technology, addressing the growing demand for low-carbon logistics solutions worldwide.
aiMotive and Sony Collaborate to Enhance ADAS and Autonomous Driving Simulation with IMX728 Sensor Integration
aiMotive, a leader in automated driving simulation, has partnered with Sony Semiconductor Solutions to integrate Sony’s IMX728 sensor into aiMotive’s aiSim platform. This collaboration aims to advance ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) and autonomous driving technologies by improving simulation accuracy and system validation. The integration offers automakers an unparalleled tool for optimizing AD systems, accelerating the development of safer, smarter vehicles.
Sony’s IMX728 sensor, available in both real-time (Silver) and high-fidelity (Gold) configurations, enhances simulations by combining real-world and synthetic datasets for advanced algorithm development. This partnership emphasizes safety and efficiency, providing a risk-free environment for testing and validation. As CES2025 approaches, the companies plan to showcase how their collaboration is reshaping automotive innovation, improving safety, and speeding up the deployment of next-generation vehicle technologies.
U Power Unveils AI-Powered Logistics Vehicle with Autonomous Battery Swapping
U Power Limited has launched an AI-based autonomous logistics vehicle featuring UOTTA’s automated battery-swapping system, enabling unmanned energy replenishment. Designed for long-haul, regional, and last-mile deliveries, this innovation reduces green logistics costs by over 46% while enhancing operational efficiency through real-time AI decision-making and cloud integration. U Power is collaborating with global logistics firms to deploy this groundbreaking technology, meeting the rising demand for sustainable, low-carbon logistics solutions.
Safety Concerns Rise as Cruise Halts Robotaxi Program Amid Expansion of Self-Driving Trucks
General Motors’ decision to pause its Cruise robotaxi program, previously tested in Dallas and Houston, underscores growing concerns about the readiness of self-driving technology for public roads. Safety advocate and attorney Amy Witherite warns that incidents involving autonomous vehicles, including Cruise and Tesla, highlight significant risks.
Simultaneously, self-driving trucks are gaining momentum, with DHL Supply Chain and Volvo Autonomous Solutions using autonomous trucks to transport goods in Texas. A new facility in Georgia supports driverless trucking along the Dallas-to-Atlanta corridor, enabled by laws allowing autonomous operations without drivers.
Witherite cautions that the regulatory landscape, which permits driverless trucks in over 20 states, prioritizes corporate profits over safety, potentially endangering public welfare. Her firm continues to provide legal support for victims of accidents involving autonomous vehicles.
Asahi Kasei Survey Explores Consumer Expectations for Autonomous Cars
Asahi Kasei’s fifth annual Automotive Consumer Survey provides insights into consumer expectations for fully autonomous vehicles across major markets: Germany, the U.S., China, and Japan. Key findings highlight safety concerns, interior design preferences, and sustainability perceptions shaping the future of autonomous vehicles.
Many respondents expressed distrust in fully autonomous technology, with most favoring manual control options like steering wheels and pedals. Observing traffic remained a top activity, while entertainment features were less desired. A silent cabin emerged as the most valued interior feature, addressing the noise challenges of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
In terms of sustainability, Western consumers emphasized recyclable materials and eco-friendly production, while drivetrain technology dominated preferences in China and Japan. Sustainability is increasingly important, influencing purchasing decisions in Western markets, where 35% of respondents indicated a willingness to switch brands for greener mobility.
Conducted in December 2023 with over 4,000 participants, this survey offers critical guidance for automakers in reimagining future vehicle designs.