Reuters —Cruise will offer its autonomous vehicles on Uber’s platform starting next year, the companies said on Thursday, as the General Motors-backed robotaxi firm attempts a comeback.
The multi-year partnership will allow Uber riders to choose a trip using a Cruise autonomous vehicle, they said.
Uber’s partnership with Cruise comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk is set to unveil its delayed plans for a robotaxi product in October amid slowing demand for electric vehicles.
Commercializing autonomous vehicles has been tougher than expected and taken longer than promised due to complex technology, soaring investments, tight regulatory scrutiny and federal investigations.
Trips by self-driving vehicles on Uber’s platform rose six-fold in the June quarter year-on-year, helped by partnerships with companies including Waymo, as well as startup Waabi for freight services.
Persons:
Reuters — Cruise, Uber, Alphabet’s, Cruise, Elon Musk, Dara Khosrowshahi
Organizations:
Reuters, General Motors
Locations:
Phoenix, U.S, San Francisco