GM’s self-driving car division fined US$1.5 million for failure to report crash data

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Monday that General Motors’ self-driving car unit Cruise will pay a US$1.5 million fine after failing to disclose details of a fatal October 2023 accident involving a pedestrian.

Under the agreement, Cruise must submit to NHTSA a corrective action plan on how it will improve compliance with adverse event reporting and address the enhanced reporting requirements for at least two years.

Cruise also faces an ongoing investigation by the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission following an accident in which one of San Francisco’s traffic lights struck a pedestrian after being hit by another vehicle and dragged more than six feet.

In October 2023, Cruise employees tried to convince NHTSA not to open an investigation into the injury incident and filed reports that failed to reveal that a pedestrian had been pulled over, said a report released by GM.

Chief Ship Safety Officer Steve Kenner said the agreement with the agency is “a step forward in a new chapter for Cruise, building on our progress under new leadership, improved processes and culture, and a strong commitment to creating transparency with our regulators.”

Cruise posted incomplete reports about the crash

NHTSA said Cruise has submitted multiple incomplete accident reports involving self-driving systems, including two tied to the October crash.

It found that Cruise omitted information from the October 2023 crash reports after viewing video it requested from Cruise, who also amended four other reports to provide additional details about other accidents, the agency said.

NHTSA’s investigation into whether Cruise takes adequate precautions with its autonomous robotaxis to protect pedestrians remains open.

In August, Cruise recalled 1,200 robots for severe braking problems following an NHTSA investigation into the safety of their autonomous driving systems.

GM said in July that it will permanently suspend plans to use its Origin self-driving car without a steering wheel.

In response to the October crash and subsequent investigation, a Cruise executive resigned last year and General Motors announced plans to cut spending on the self-driving unit.

The California Public Utilities Commission imposed a maximum fine of $112,500 on Cruise for its failure to promptly provide complete information to the commission about the crash.