Joe Burn

Associated Press

General Motors said Tuesday it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit.

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General Motors said Tuesday it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit.

Instead, the Detroit automaker will focus on developing partially automated driver-assist systems like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel.

Instead, the Detroit automaker will focus on developing partially automated driver-assist systems like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel.

GM said it would cease funding robotaxis “given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market.”

GM said it would cease funding robotaxis “given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market.”

The company said it will combine Cruise&#8217;s technical team with its own to work on advanced systems to assist drivers.

The company said it will combine Cruise's technical team with its own to work on advanced systems to assist drivers.

The company said it will combine Cruise&#8217;s technical team with its own to work on advanced systems to assist drivers.

&#8220;The Cruise board of directors and the Cruise leadership team are collaborating closely with GM on next steps,&#8221; CEO Marc Whitten said.

"The Cruise board of directors and the Cruise leadership team are collaborating closely with GM on next steps," CEO Marc Whitten said.

&#8220;The Cruise board of directors and the Cruise leadership team are collaborating closely with GM on next steps,&#8221; CEO Marc Whitten said.

San Franciscans are having sex in robotaxis, and nobody is talking about it

sf-standard/related-post

Cruise admits lying to feds about dragging woman in San Francisco

Woman dragged by Cruise robotaxi gets over $8M settlement: Report

sf-standard/related-posts-container

Cruise had a tumultuous run in San Francisco. A little more than a year after one of its robotaxis dragged a woman along a downtown street in October 2023, the company dodged a criminal charge by <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/14/cruise-fine-investigation-dragging-robotaxi/">admitting that it lied to federal regulators</a> about what happened.

Cruise had a tumultuous run in San Francisco. A little more than a year after one of its robotaxis dragged a woman along a downtown street in October 2023, the company dodged a criminal charge by <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/14/cruise-fine-investigation-dragging-robotaxi/">admitting that it lied to federal regulators</a> about what happened.

During the incident, the robotaxi halted, but its sensor system failed to detect that there was a person beneath it, so it wound up&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/02/cruise-robotaxi-crash-woman-injured-san-francisco/">dragging the woman more than 20 feet</a>&nbsp;as it pulled to the side of the road. Cruise ended up paying the woman between <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/15/cruise-settlement-san-francisco-woman-dragged/">$8 million and $12 million</a>.

Woman hit by driver, run over by Cruise robotaxi in downtown San Francisco

During the incident, the robotaxi halted, but its sensor system failed to detect that there was a person beneath it, so it wound up&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/02/cruise-robotaxi-crash-woman-injured-san-francisco/">dragging the woman more than 20 feet</a>&nbsp;as it pulled to the side of the road. Cruise ended up paying the woman between <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/15/cruise-settlement-san-francisco-woman-dragged/">$8 million and $12 million</a>.

Cruise co-founder Kyle Vogt, now CEO of The Bot Company, <a href="https://twitter.com/kvogt/status/1866612270815494639">weighed in on the automaker&#8217;s decision on X</a>. &#8220;In case it was unclear before, it is clear now: GM are a bunch of dummies.&#8221;

Cruise co-founder Kyle Vogt, now CEO of The Bot Company, <a href="https://twitter.com/kvogt/status/1866612270815494639">weighed in on the automaker's decision on X</a>. "In case it was unclear before, it is clear now: GM are a bunch of dummies."

Cruise co-founder Kyle Vogt, now CEO of The Bot Company, <a href="https://twitter.com/kvogt/status/1866612270815494639">weighed in on the automaker&#8217;s decision on X</a>. &#8220;In case it was unclear before, it is clear now: GM are a bunch of dummies.&#8221;

The robotaxis, with cute names like Kombucha, also made headlines as <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/11/san-francisco-robotaxi-cruise-debauchery/">a new place to have sex</a>.

The robotaxis, with cute names like Kombucha, also made headlines as <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/11/san-francisco-robotaxi-cruise-debauchery/">a new place to have sex</a>.

Cruise robotaxis are dead

Rya Jetha

General Motors is laying off roughly half the employees who remain at Cruise, its scuttled robotaxi arm.

General Motors is laying off roughly half the employees who remain at Cruise, its scuttled robotaxi arm.

The move comes two months after General Motors said it would <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/12/10/cruise-robotaxis-are-dead/">retreat from the robotaxi business</a> and stop sinking money into its San Francisco-based Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. GM has spent <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/15/end-of-gm-cruise-driverless-robotaxi.html">more than $10 billion</a> on Cruise since acquiring the business in 2016.

The move comes two months after General Motors said it would <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/12/10/cruise-robotaxis-are-dead/">retreat from the robotaxi business</a> and stop sinking money into its San Francisco-based Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. GM has spent <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/15/end-of-gm-cruise-driverless-robotaxi.html">more than $10 billion</a> on Cruise since acquiring the business in 2016.

“As a result of the change in strategy we announced in December, today we will part with nearly 50% of our Cruise employee base, through a reduction in force,” Craig Glidden, Cruise&#8217;s president and chief administrative officer, announced via a companywide email viewed and verified <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/04/cruise-to-slash-workforce-by-50-after-gm-cuts-funding-to-robotaxi-operations/">by TechCrunch</a>.

“As a result of the change in strategy we announced in December, today we will part with nearly 50% of our Cruise employee base, through a reduction in force,” Craig Glidden, Cruise's president and chief administrative officer, announced via a companywide email viewed and verified <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/04/cruise-to-slash-workforce-by-50-after-gm-cuts-funding-to-robotaxi-operations/">by TechCrunch</a>.

“As a result of the change in strategy we announced in December, today we will part with nearly 50% of our Cruise employee base, through a reduction in force,” Craig Glidden, Cruise&#8217;s president and chief administrative officer, announced via a companywide email viewed and verified <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/04/cruise-to-slash-workforce-by-50-after-gm-cuts-funding-to-robotaxi-operations/">by TechCrunch</a>.

In a statement to The Standard, a Cruise spokesperson confirmed the layoffs. &#8220;We are grateful for their passion and contributions to help us reach this stage, and our focus is on supporting them into their next chapter with severance packages and career support,&#8221; the spokesperson said via email.

In a statement to The Standard, a Cruise spokesperson confirmed the layoffs. "We are grateful for their passion and contributions to help us reach this stage, and our focus is on supporting them into their next chapter with severance packages and career support," the spokesperson said via email.

In a statement to The Standard, a Cruise spokesperson confirmed the layoffs. &#8220;We are grateful for their passion and contributions to help us reach this stage, and our focus is on supporting them into their next chapter with severance packages and career support,&#8221; the spokesperson said via email.

Cruise had nearly 2,300 employees as of the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/04/gm-cuts-50percent-of-cruise-staff-after-ending-robotaxi-business.html">end of last year</a>. The majority of remaining employees are in engineering or related roles, according to the company.

Cruise had nearly 2,300 employees as of the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/04/gm-cuts-50percent-of-cruise-staff-after-ending-robotaxi-business.html">end of last year</a>. The majority of remaining employees are in engineering or related roles, according to the company.

&#8220;While not an easy decision, we are focused on combining efforts with General Motors to accelerate autonomy at scale on personal autonomous vehicles,&#8221; the spokesperson wrote.

"While not an easy decision, we are focused on combining efforts with General Motors to accelerate autonomy at scale on personal autonomous vehicles," the spokesperson wrote.

&#8220;While not an easy decision, we are focused on combining efforts with General Motors to accelerate autonomy at scale on personal autonomous vehicles,&#8221; the spokesperson wrote.

A group of top executives is leaving the company this week, including CEO Marc Whitten, chief human resources officer Nilka Thomas, chief safety officer Steve Kenner and chief government affairs officer Rob Grant. Mo Elshenawy, president and chief technology officer, will stay on through April to help with the transition, Glidden wrote in the email to staff.

A group of top executives is leaving the company this week, including CEO Marc Whitten, chief human resources officer Nilka Thomas, chief safety officer Steve Kenner and chief government affairs officer Rob Grant. Mo Elshenawy, president and chief technology officer, will stay on through April to help with the transition, Glidden wrote in the email to staff.

GM said in a separate <a href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2025/feb/0204-cruise.html">press release</a> that Cruise is now a fully owned subsidiary. The Detroit automaker will focus on developing partially automated driver-assist systems like Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel.

GM said in a separate <a href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2025/feb/0204-cruise.html">press release</a> that Cruise is now a fully owned subsidiary. The Detroit automaker will focus on developing partially automated driver-assist systems like Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel.

GM said in December it would <a href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2024/dec/1210-gm.html">cease funding robotaxis</a>, “given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market.”

GM said in December it would <a href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2024/dec/1210-gm.html">cease funding robotaxis</a>, “given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market.”

Cruise had a tumultuous run in San Francisco. A little more than a year after one of its robotaxis dragged a woman along a downtown street in October 2023, the company dodged a criminal charge by&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/14/cruise-fine-investigation-dragging-robotaxi/">admitting that it lied to federal regulators</a>&nbsp;about what happened.

Cruise had a tumultuous run in San Francisco. A little more than a year after one of its robotaxis dragged a woman along a downtown street in October 2023, the company dodged a criminal charge by&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/14/cruise-fine-investigation-dragging-robotaxi/">admitting that it lied to federal regulators</a>&nbsp;about what happened.

Cruise co-founder Kyle Vogt, now CEO of the Bot Company,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/kvogt/status/1866612270815494639">weighed in on</a> the automaker’s decision to end its robotaxi business in December. “In case it was unclear before, it is clear now: GM are a bunch of dummies,” Vogt posted on X.

Cruise co-founder Kyle Vogt, now CEO of the Bot Company,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/kvogt/status/1866612270815494639">weighed in on</a> the automaker’s decision to end its robotaxi business in December. “In case it was unclear before, it is clear now: GM are a bunch of dummies,” Vogt posted on X.

The robotaxis, with cute names like Kombucha, also made headlines as&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/11/san-francisco-robotaxi-cruise-debauchery/">a novel place to have sex</a>.

The robotaxis, with cute names like Kombucha, also made headlines as&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/11/san-francisco-robotaxi-cruise-debauchery/">a novel place to have sex</a>.

GM lays off half of Cruise after killing robotaxi business

Kevin Truong

A little more than a year after a Cruise robotaxi dragged a woman in San Francisco, the company dodged a criminal charge by admitting that it misled federal regulators about what happened.

A little more than a year after a Cruise robotaxi dragged a woman in San Francisco, the company dodged a criminal charge by admitting that it misled federal regulators about what happened.

Authorities accused Cruise of impeding an investigation into the crash by failing to provide a description or video of the dragging in a meeting with federal transportation officials the morning after the crash. A report submitted later that day also omitted the dragging.

Authorities accused Cruise of impeding an investigation into the crash by failing to provide a description or video of the dragging in a meeting with federal transportation officials the morning after the crash. A report submitted later that day also omitted the dragging.

The General Motors-owned company has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine and accept responsibility for the criminal charges laid out by the U.S. Justice Department. Cruise is also required to cooperate with government investigations, implement a safety compliance program, and provide annual reports on that progress.

The General Motors-owned company has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine and accept responsibility for the criminal charges laid out by the U.S. Justice Department. Cruise is also required to cooperate with government investigations, implement a safety compliance program, and provide annual reports on that progress.

The deferred prosecution deal comes about a month and a half after Cruise was hit with a $1.5 million fine by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The deferred prosecution deal comes about a month and a half after Cruise was hit with a $1.5 million fine by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The pedestrian-dragging incident that touched off the regulatory and criminal probes took place in October 2023, when a woman was thrown in the path of a Cruise vehicle on Market Street in downtown San Francisco. The robotaxi halted, but its sensor system failed to detect that there was a person beneath it, so it wound up <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/02/cruise-robotaxi-crash-woman-injured-san-francisco/">dragging the woman more than 20 feet</a> as it pulled over to the side of the road.

The pedestrian-dragging incident that touched off the regulatory and criminal probes took place in October 2023, when a woman was thrown in the path of a Cruise vehicle on Market Street in downtown San Francisco. The robotaxi halted, but its sensor system failed to detect that there was a person beneath it, so it wound up <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/02/cruise-robotaxi-crash-woman-injured-san-francisco/">dragging the woman more than 20 feet</a> as it pulled over to the side of the road.

Under federal regulations, Cruise was required to report such crashes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Under federal regulations, Cruise was required to report such crashes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Although Cruise later provided the video to NHTSA officials, the company failed to correct the incident report in a timely manner.

Although Cruise later provided the video to NHTSA officials, the company failed to correct the incident report in a timely manner.

“Federal laws and regulations are in place to protect public safety on our roads,&#8221; Martha Boersch, the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division chief, said in a news release Thursday. &#8220;Companies with self-driving cars that seek to share our roads and crosswalks must be fully truthful in their reports to their regulators.&#8221;

“Federal laws and regulations are in place to protect public safety on our roads," Martha Boersch, the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division chief, said in a news release Thursday. "Companies with self-driving cars that seek to share our roads and crosswalks must be fully truthful in their reports to their regulators."

“Federal laws and regulations are in place to protect public safety on our roads,&#8221; Martha Boersch, the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division chief, said in a news release Thursday. &#8220;Companies with self-driving cars that seek to share our roads and crosswalks must be fully truthful in their reports to their regulators.&#8221;

The dragging incident threw a wrench in Cruise&#8217;s expansion plans and led to its once-ubiquitous fleet of robotaxis with cutesy names getting pulled from streets nationwide.

The dragging incident threw a wrench in Cruise's expansion plans and led to its once-ubiquitous fleet of robotaxis with cutesy names getting pulled from streets nationwide.

The dragging incident threw a wrench in Cruise&#8217;s expansion plans and led to its once-ubiquitous fleet of robotaxis with cutesy names getting pulled from streets nationwide.

Federal and state officials also launched investigations into the company and how it met disclosure requirements in the wake of the crash. In June, a California Public Utilities Commission judge approved a separate $112,500 settlement to end the agency&#8217;s probe into the dragging.

Federal and state officials also launched investigations into the company and how it met disclosure requirements in the wake of the crash. In June, a California Public Utilities Commission judge approved a separate $112,500 settlement to end the agency's probe into the dragging.

Federal and state officials also launched investigations into the company and how it met disclosure requirements in the wake of the crash. In June, a California Public Utilities Commission judge approved a separate $112,500 settlement to end the agency&#8217;s probe into the dragging.

Several top executives — including founder and CEO Kyle Vogt — resigned or were fired in the aftermath of the crash, and Cruise cut hundreds of jobs as it scaled back.

Several top executives — including founder and CEO Kyle Vogt — resigned or were fired in the aftermath of the crash, and Cruise cut hundreds of jobs as it scaled back.

In September, Cruise announced it would soon return to the Bay Area with mapping vehicles in Sunnyvale and Mountain View — but that each car would have a driver behind the wheel.

In September, Cruise announced it would soon return to the Bay Area with mapping vehicles in Sunnyvale and Mountain View — but that each car would have a driver behind the wheel.

Cruise President Craig Glidden said the company will adhere to the deferred prosecution agreement as it moves forward under new leadership &#8220;and with a firm commitment to transparency with our regulators.&#8221;

Cruise President Craig Glidden said the company will adhere to the deferred prosecution agreement as it moves forward under new leadership "and with a firm commitment to transparency with our regulators."

Cruise President Craig Glidden said the company will adhere to the deferred prosecution agreement as it moves forward under new leadership &#8220;and with a firm commitment to transparency with our regulators.&#8221;

Garrett Leahy

A holiday “booze cruise” turned chaotic late Saturday when dozens of people were not allowed to board and told they would not get refunds, and some allegedly threw bottles and tried to jump onto the boat.

A holiday “booze cruise” turned chaotic late Saturday when dozens of people were not allowed to board and told they would not get refunds, and some allegedly threw bottles and tried to jump onto the boat.

Ticket holder Amy Fan said in a Reddit post that the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friendsgiving-booze-cruise-on-the-bay-nov-16th-9pm-til-1230-tickets-1016777367477">“Friendsgiving” event</a> thrown by Skyline Yacht Cruises was overbooked by 60 people, who were turned away and told it was their fault for not being at the dock on time.

Ticket holder Amy Fan said in a Reddit post that the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friendsgiving-booze-cruise-on-the-bay-nov-16th-9pm-til-1230-tickets-1016777367477">“Friendsgiving” event</a> thrown by Skyline Yacht Cruises was overbooked by 60 people, who were turned away and told it was their fault for not being at the dock on time.

A video shared with The Standard shows a Skyline Yacht Cruises employee who identifies herself as “Jeanette” initially offering refunds to people left behind on the dock. She later walks back the promise, saying the company will issue a credit for a free cruise if customers send a screenshot of their ticket and their email address. As she tries to speak, one person shouts, “You wasted our time” as others are seen attempting to jump onto the yacht from the dock.&nbsp;

A video shared with The Standard shows a Skyline Yacht Cruises employee who identifies herself as “Jeanette” initially offering refunds to people left behind on the dock. She later walks back the promise, saying the company will issue a credit for a free cruise if customers send a screenshot of their ticket and their email address. As she tries to speak, one person shouts, “You wasted our time” as others are seen attempting to jump onto the yacht from the dock.&nbsp;

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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-reddit wp-block-embed-reddit"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/1gtu7yh/brawl_almost_starts_at_hornblower_landing_over/
</div></figure>

<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" ><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/1gtu7yh/brawl_almost_starts_at_hornblower_landing_over/">Brawl almost starts at Hornblower Landing over overbooked cruise </a> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/AndrewClemmens/">u/AndrewClemmens</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/">sanfrancisco</a></blockquote><script async src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

“You guys cannot jump. You guys cannot jump over,” Jeanette says in the video. “I need you guys to separate from the dock.”

“You guys cannot jump. You guys cannot jump over,” Jeanette says in the video. “I need you guys to separate from the dock.”

A video accompanying the Reddit post shows people pushing customers away from an entry gate leading to the boat as staffers yell, “We have to close this.” “Please, we have tickets,” a woman says as a man appears to push her away from the gate.&nbsp;

A video accompanying the Reddit post shows people pushing customers away from an entry gate leading to the boat as staffers yell, “We have to close this.” “Please, we have tickets,” a woman says as a man appears to push her away from the gate.&nbsp;

Fan said she saw three people throw bottles at the ship’s hull. A representative for Skyline Yacht Cruises told The Standard no one threw bottles and claimed police were never called.

Fan said she saw three people throw bottles at the ship’s hull. A representative for Skyline Yacht Cruises told The Standard no one threw bottles and claimed police were never called.

The San Francisco Police Department confirmed that officers responded at 10:06 p.m. to a report of a verbal dispute at Embarcadero Street between Howard and Folsom. When officers arrived, they found there had been a pay dispute, and no police assistance was needed, the department said.

The San Francisco Police Department confirmed that officers responded at 10:06 p.m. to a report of a verbal dispute at Embarcadero Street between Howard and Folsom. When officers arrived, they found there had been a pay dispute, and no police assistance was needed, the department said.

Fan, who was among those not allowed to board, said she arrived at Pier 3 seven minutes into the cruise’s 30-minute boarding period.

Fan, who was among those not allowed to board, said she arrived at Pier 3 seven minutes into the cruise’s 30-minute boarding period.

Because of the overbooking snafu, Fan and 29 other guests for her friend’s birthday party were left behind. Each paid $27 for tickets.

Because of the overbooking snafu, Fan and 29 other guests for her friend’s birthday party were left behind. Each paid $27 for tickets.

“It was awful,” Fan said. “This was my friend’s 30th birthday party, and she had had a hard week.”

“It was awful,” Fan said. “This was my friend’s 30th birthday party, and she had had a hard week.”

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://vimeo.com/1030954585
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An organizer from Skyline Yacht Cruises who identifies herself as “Jeanette” addresses passengers who bought tickets but were not allowed to board. | Courtesy Amy Fan</figcaption></figure>

Skyline Yacht Cruises denied overbooking the cruise in an interview and a text message to a passenger that was reviewed by The Standard.&nbsp;

Skyline Yacht Cruises denied overbooking the cruise in an interview and a text message to a passenger that was reviewed by The Standard.&nbsp;

The company representative, who declined to provide their name, claimed that the passengers who were left behind didn’t follow instructions on the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friendsgiving-booze-cruise-on-the-bay-nov-16th-9pm-til-1230-tickets-1016777367477">Eventbrite page</a> and didn’t show up early enough to board.&nbsp;

The company representative, who declined to provide their name, claimed that the passengers who were left behind didn’t follow instructions on the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friendsgiving-booze-cruise-on-the-bay-nov-16th-9pm-til-1230-tickets-1016777367477">Eventbrite page</a> and didn’t show up early enough to board.&nbsp;

“There is a cutoff time. If you aren’t on the boat on time, we have to leave,” the representative said. “We can’t override whatever plans the captain has in place. All we do is sell the tickets and provide music.”

“There is a cutoff time. If you aren’t on the boat on time, we have to leave,” the representative said. “We can’t override whatever plans the captain has in place. All we do is sell the tickets and provide music.”

The Eventbrite page said boarding begins at 9 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m., and sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges. Fan said the 30-minute boarding period for such a large cruise — there were 452 people aboard, according to the company — is poor planning and bound to result in people being left behind.&nbsp;

The Eventbrite page said boarding begins at 9 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m., and sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges. Fan said the 30-minute boarding period for such a large cruise — there were 452 people aboard, according to the company — is poor planning and bound to result in people being left behind.&nbsp;

Getting 450 people onto a ship in 30 minutes means having someone board every four seconds, with security checking bags.

Getting 450 people onto a ship in 30 minutes means having someone board every four seconds, with security checking bags.

The ship used for the event, San Francisco Spirit, is meant to carry only 400 passengers, according to the <a href="https://www.cityexperiences.com/san-francisco/city-cruises/our-fleet/san-francisco-spirit/">website</a> of operator <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/02/22/alcatraz-cruise-operator-hornblower-bankruptcy/">Hornblower Group</a>, not the 452 who were onboard. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Hornblower&#8217;s SOS call: Sunk by the pandemic, Alcatraz cruise operator files for bankruptcy

The ship used for the event, San Francisco Spirit, is meant to carry only 400 passengers, according to the <a href="https://www.cityexperiences.com/san-francisco/city-cruises/our-fleet/san-francisco-spirit/">website</a> of operator <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2024/02/22/alcatraz-cruise-operator-hornblower-bankruptcy/">Hornblower Group</a>, not the 452 who were onboard. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Booze cruise organizer blames passengers for chaos

Robotaxi company Cruise has paid out between $8 million and $12 million to a woman who was dragged 20 feet by one of its autonomous vehicles in downtown San Francisco last fall, according to <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/05/14/gm-cruise-settlement-pedestrian-accident-san-francisco/">Fortune</a>.

Robotaxi company Cruise has paid out between $8 million and $12 million to a woman who was dragged 20 feet by one of its autonomous vehicles in downtown San Francisco last fall, according to <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/05/14/gm-cruise-settlement-pedestrian-accident-san-francisco/">Fortune</a>.

California Department of Motor Vehicles officials say Cruise didn&#8217;t show regulators complete footage of an&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/02/cruise-robotaxi-crash-woman-injured-san-francisco/">Oct. 2 incident in Downtown San Francisco</a>&nbsp;where a robotaxi dragged a woman after she was hit by a human driver.

California Department of Motor Vehicles officials say Cruise didn't show regulators complete footage of an&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/02/cruise-robotaxi-crash-woman-injured-san-francisco/">Oct. 2 incident in Downtown San Francisco</a>&nbsp;where a robotaxi dragged a woman after she was hit by a human driver.

California Department of Motor Vehicles officials say Cruise didn&#8217;t show regulators complete footage of an&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/02/cruise-robotaxi-crash-woman-injured-san-francisco/">Oct. 2 incident in Downtown San Francisco</a>&nbsp;where a robotaxi dragged a woman after she was hit by a human driver.

The DMV <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/24/cruise-robotaxi-suspended-dmv-san-francisco/">suspended Cruise&#8217;s driverless taxi permits</a>. The company is now taking steps to reinstate its license to drive passengers around autonomously in <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/transit/cruise-seeking-to-reinstate-suspended-california-permits/article_b5d27284-f78e-11ee-a2bb-4bf74ccfde54.html">San Francisco</a> and is set to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/09/gms-cruise-to-relaunch-vehicles-with-human-drivers-in-phoenix.html">resume operations in Phoenix</a> soon.

DMV stops San Francisco Cruise robotaxis after woman got stuck under driverless car

The DMV <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/24/cruise-robotaxi-suspended-dmv-san-francisco/">suspended Cruise's driverless taxi permits</a>. The company is now taking steps to reinstate its license to drive passengers around autonomously in <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/transit/cruise-seeking-to-reinstate-suspended-california-permits/article_b5d27284-f78e-11ee-a2bb-4bf74ccfde54.html">San Francisco</a> and is set to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/09/gms-cruise-to-relaunch-vehicles-with-human-drivers-in-phoenix.html">resume operations in Phoenix</a> soon.

The DMV <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/24/cruise-robotaxi-suspended-dmv-san-francisco/">suspended Cruise&#8217;s driverless taxi permits</a>. The company is now taking steps to reinstate its license to drive passengers around autonomously in <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/transit/cruise-seeking-to-reinstate-suspended-california-permits/article_b5d27284-f78e-11ee-a2bb-4bf74ccfde54.html">San Francisco</a> and is set to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/09/gms-cruise-to-relaunch-vehicles-with-human-drivers-in-phoenix.html">resume operations in Phoenix</a> soon.

Firefighters responded to a report of a woman trapped under a Cruise robotaxi on Oct. 2, 2023.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-02-at-10.41.14-PM.png?w=998" alt="Firefighters in dark-colored gear with fluorescent stripes stand near a department heavy rescue vehicle." class="wp-image-207496"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Firefighters respond to a report of a woman trapped under a Cruise robotaxi on Oct. 2, 2023.</figcaption></figure>

core/image

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-02-at-10.41.14-PM.png?w=998" alt="Firefighters in dark-colored gear with fluorescent stripes stand near a department heavy rescue vehicle." class="wp-image-207496"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Firefighters respond to a report of a woman trapped under a Cruise robotaxi on Oct. 2, 2023.</figcaption></figure>

Citing an anonymous source whose information was independently verified, Fortune confirmed the settlement but was unable to identify the victim of the October crash, which resulted in life-threatening injuries.

Citing an anonymous source whose information was independently verified, Fortune confirmed the settlement but was unable to identify the victim of the October crash, which resulted in life-threatening injuries.

After the point of impact, the Cruise vehicle came to a stop with the woman trapped underneath. However, the robotaxi then attempted to pull over while the pedestrian was under the vehicle, which dragged her about 20 feet at a speed of 7 mph before coming to a final stop.

After the point of impact, the Cruise vehicle came to a stop with the woman trapped underneath. However, the robotaxi then attempted to pull over while the pedestrian was under the vehicle, which dragged her about 20 feet at a speed of 7 mph before coming to a final stop.

The victim is said to have been discharged from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital after arriving in critical condition, Fortune reports.

The victim is said to have been discharged from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital after arriving in critical condition, Fortune reports.

In the aftermath of the incident, General Motors cut Cruise&#8217;s annual budget by $1 billion and replaced almost all of its management team. Tax filings show that the robotaxi firm has lost over $9 billion since GM took over in 2016.

In the aftermath of the incident, General Motors cut Cruise's annual budget by $1 billion and replaced almost all of its management team. Tax filings show that the robotaxi firm has lost over $9 billion since GM took over in 2016.

In the aftermath of the incident, General Motors cut Cruise&#8217;s annual budget by $1 billion and replaced almost all of its management team. Tax filings show that the robotaxi firm has lost over $9 billion since GM took over in 2016.

“The hearts of all Cruise employees continue to be with the pedestrian, and we hope for her continued recovery,” a Cruise spokesperson said in a statement.

“The hearts of all Cruise employees continue to be with the pedestrian, and we hope for her continued recovery,” a Cruise spokesperson said in a statement.

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