24 AFTERMARKET DECEMBER/JANUARY 2024 TECHNICAL/AFTERMARKET OF THE FUTURE www.aftermarketonline.net Self-driving controversy as California suspends Cruise’s testing permit The suspension of Cruise’s testing permit in California has sent shockwaves through the global self-driving industry, with the US approach to roll-out under more scrutiny than at any time since the Uber ATF moment in 2018. The suspension comes after a Cruise car struck a pedestrian following a hit-and-run by a human-driven vehicle – an incident The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) was urgently investigating. Cruise responded: “ Ultimately, we develop and deploy autonomous vehicles in an effort to save lives. Our teams are currently doing an analysis to identify potential enhancements to the AV’s response to this kind of extremely rare event.” Cruise is owned by General Motors with CEO Mary Barra predicting it could generate $50 billion in annual revenue by 2030. However, the roll-out has many vocal critics, including the Transport Workers Union of America. It is hard to overstate how serious this is for selfdriving in the US. AV safety expert Philip Koopman said: “I am becoming convinced that this is Cruise’s “Uber ATG moment”. In 2018 an Uber ATG test vehicle killed a pedestrian, due in large part due to an inadequate safety culture. That event triggered a profound safety culture transformation within the company.” In October, as the fallout from the cancellation of HS2 continued, The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) quietly announced the recipients of £1.3 million in joint government and industry funding “to study the feasibility of self-driving mass transit solutions across the UK.” The following six projects will explore how self-driving can be cheaper, emit less carbon, and increase transport safety and security: Autonomous Healthlink will study a zero emission self-driving system on a segregated route between Seaton Delaval Station and the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital Blythe Rural Automated Vehicle Operations will study a shuttle service connecting Blythe Valley Business Park to the UK Central Hub Commercialising Connected and Automated Vehicle Services in the Scottish Highlands and Islands will study the commercial potential of a self-driving link between Inverness and the Isle of Skye Dromos Connected and Automated System will study an on-demand 24/7 self-driving system running on a decommissioned railway between Bolton Transport Interchange and the Royal Bolton Hospital HertsLynx Connected and Automated Mobility On-Demand will study a self-driving service connecting Maylands to Harpenden Station and St Albans Integrated Mixed Traffic Mobility for Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit extends an existing study examining “Dedicated Driverless Spaces” linking Watford and St Albans town centres. Perhaps some of these exciting projects might actually happen, and deliver incredible value for money. Strong case for diverting HS2 cash to self-driving Neil Kennett looks at cutting-edge auto tech coming to a workshop near you soon AFTERMARKET OF THE FUTURE A commentator on the UK aftermarket since before Concorde was grounded, Neil is Editor of Carsofthefuture.co.uk, providing news and views about driverless vehicles, and Director of Communications at Selfdrivingpr.com, experts in automotive/autonomous media and public relations
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