GM Cruise Layoffs Amid Strategic Shift and Fine

General Motors (GM) has decided to lay off approximately 50% of the workforce from its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit, affecting over 1,000 employees, including top executives. This decision follows GM's acquisition of full ownership of Cruise and its strategic shift away from the robotaxi market to focus on developing advanced driver assistance systems and personal autonomous vehicles, integrating Cruise's technology into GM's Super Cruise system. The layoffs were communicated via an internal email by Cruise President Craig Glidden, citing changes in their strategic direction as the reason for the workforce reduction. GM aims to save up to $1 billion annually by discontinuing the robotaxi program, which faced regulatory challenges and safety concerns, notably after a high-profile accident involving a Cruise vehicle. Despite the setbacks, GM plans to retain most of Cruise's engineering talent to strengthen its autonomous driving initiatives. Employees affected by the layoffs will receive severance packages and career support as they transition out of the company.