© Reuters. The new GM brand is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – General Motors (NYSE:)’ Cruise mentioned Monday it named a longtime auto and tech trade worker as head of security for the robotaxi unit.
Cruise named Steve Kenner as its chief security officer, who will oversee Cruise’s security administration programs and operations.
Kenner started has profession at GM in 1978 and beforehand labored as international director of automotive security at Ford (NYSE:), amongst different jobs. He was most not too long ago vice chairman of security at self-driving trucking firm Kodiak and likewise labored at Apple (NASDAQ:), Uber (NYSE:), Locomation, Chrysler and Aurora.
Kenner’s appointment comes at a important time for Cruise.
On Oct. 2, a pedestrian in San Francisco hit by one other automobile was thrown into the trail of a self-driving Cruise automobile and dragged 20 toes.
In the aftermath, California suspended the corporate’s driverless testing license, and Cruise pulled all its U.S. self-driving automobiles from testing. The unit’s CEO, Kyle Vogt, and co-founder Dan Kan resigned in November.
“Safety governance is a critical gating factor as we return to our mission and get Cruise cars back on the road safely,” said Cruise Co-President Mo Elshenawy.
Cruise commissioned a report from law firm Quinn Emanuel that said the company did not intend to mislead. A separate technical review by engineering firm Exponent (NASDAQ:) discovered the Cruise automobile suffered from mapping errors and incorrectly recognized hitting the lady as a aspect affect collision, the report said. Cruise has since up to date its software program.
In December, Cruise introduced it was decreasing its workforce by 24% and GM mentioned final month it was chopping spending at Cruise by about $1 billion in 2024.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has individually opened an investigation into pedestrian dangers at Cruise.
Last week, Cruise raised its provide to resolve an investigation by a California regulator over its delay in disclosing the small print of the Oct. 2 pedestrian crash
Kenner mentioned in a press release he seems ahead to incomes the belief of regulators. “We have the same goal as regulators: to make our roadways safer and establish public confidence in the AV industry.”