GM’s Cruise unveils its first driverless vehicle
foxnews.1eye.us auto editor Gary Gastelu shares his insights on Cruise’s first driverless vehicle and the implications for the auto industry.
General Motors will build the autonomous Cruise Origin shuttle revealed last week at its Detroit-Hamtramck factory, the automaker confirmed Monday.
(Cruise)
The facility has been earmarked to build several all-electric models, starting with a pickup in late 2021.
The plant was previously the home of the discontinued Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and currently produces the Cadillac CT6 and Chevrolet Impala, which will bill both end production in February.
Batteries for all of the vehicles will be supplied from a new factory being built by GM and LG Chem in Lordstown, Ohio.
(Cruise)
GM said the Origin will enter production after the pickup, but did not announce a specific date. The six-passenger vehicle is being developed to be full-autonomous without any controls for a human driver.
The automaker is lobbying the federal government for approval to operate vehicles like the Origin on public roads and plans to deploy them in an urban ride-hailing service operated by its subsidiary, Cruise.