Cruise Admits False Reporting, Fined $500,000

General Motors' self-driving subsidiary, Cruise, has acknowledged submitting a false report regarding an October 2023 incident where one of its robotaxis struck and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department, Cruise will pay a $500,000 fine and must implement a safety compliance program while cooperating with ongoing investigations. The report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) omitted crucial details about the accident, which has led to significant leadership changes at Cruise, including the resignation of its CEO and co-founder. In addition, Cruise has faced prior penalties, including a $1.5 million fine from NHTSA. The company is committed to transparency moving forward, as stated by President Craig Glidden, following a series of operational setbacks and a temporary suspension of its services in California. Consequently, Cruise's permit was revoked after failing to adequately report the incident, and the company reached an $8 million settlement with the injured pedestrian.