Honda Ends Robotaxi Venture with GM's Cruise
Honda is withdrawing funding from its robotaxi joint venture with General Motors and Cruise following GM's decision to absorb Cruise and focus on personal autonomous vehicles. GM will buy back shares from minority stakeholders, including Honda, increasing its ownership in Cruise to over 97%.
This move ends the companies' plan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo in 2026 using Cruise's Origin vehicle. The project was announced in late 2023, shortly before Cruise faced regulatory setbacks in California. Hyundai, meanwhile, is focusing its eVTOL efforts in California.
Honda's CEO had previously indicated a later timeline for autonomous vehicle deployment, closer to the end of the decade. Cruise's subsequent abandonment of the Origin robotaxi further solidified the venture's demise. This shift aligns with broader industry trends, as seen with potential funding disruptions for autonomous vehicle development.
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