Rev up your engines, folks! 🚀 General Motors (GM) is switching lanes in the race for self-driving cars. The auto giant just announced that it's putting the brakes on its futuristic, steering-wheel-free Origin vehicle. Instead, GM's Cruise self-driving unit is hitting the gas on developing a next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV. 🔋🚗
Why the sudden U-turn? 🤔 It's all about dodging those pesky regulatory speed bumps! 🛑 In 2022, GM asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to green-light the deployment of 2,500 self-driving Origin vehicles each year. But with the NHTSA yet to give the thumbs-up, GM decided to steer clear of delays by focusing on the more conventional Bolt EV platform for its Cruise robotaxis. Smart move or shortcut? You tell us! 💡
GM's CEO Mary Barra is still keeping the Origin dream alive. 🌟 She expressed high hopes for its future, saying, \"I do think in the future there's going to be opportunity for Origin – and so that remains open to us at the right time.\" So, while the Origin takes a pit stop, the Bolt EV is ready to roll without any regulatory roadblocks. 🏁
This shift highlights the rocky road ahead for fully autonomous vehicles. 🛣️ Industry analysts point out that creating cars that drive themselves is a marathon, not a sprint. 🏃♂️ Between engineering hurdles and legal hoops to jump through, it might be a while before we see robo-taxis ruling the roads. But hey, progress is progress! 🚀
So, gear up for the next-gen Bolt EV cruising your streets sooner than you think! ⚡ And don't worry, the Origin might just make a legendary comeback when the time is right. 😉
Stay tuned, adventurers! The future of driving is just around the corner. 🛸✨
Reference(s):
GM delays self-driving vehicle production, shifts focus to new EV
cgtn.com
