General Motors’ self-driving unit, Cruise, is currently under dual investigations by the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The probes stem from a grisly collision in October 2023, where one of Cruise’s autonomous vehicles dragged a pedestrian who had been struck by another vehicle.

The incident has led to a significant shake-up within the company. Cruise has acknowledged its shortcomings in the aftermath of the accident, admitting that its actions fell “woefully short”. The company has expressed profound remorse for the injuries to the pedestrian and for breaching the trust of regulators, the media, and the public.

A report commissioned by GM and conducted by an outside law firm found that Cruise did not provide a full picture to regulators in the immediate aftermath of the accident. The report attributed these lapses to a failure of leadership within Cruise, inadequate and uncoordinated internal processes, and a fundamental misunderstanding of regulatory requirements and expectations.

Technical issues prevented a full viewing of the video of the accident, in which the car dragged the pedestrian for about 20 feet. However, staff did not verbally provide an account to make up for that lapse. The report also noted that staff responded to press inquiries without being aware of the full details of the incident.

In response to the incident, Cruise has made several changes. Nine executives have been fired, and the CEO and a co-founder have resigned. The company also cut about 24% of its staff. Cruise is cooperating with authorities and has updated its software.

Despite the challenges, Cruise remains committed to its mission. The company believes that autonomous vehicles can significantly reduce the number and severity of car collisions. However, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and potential pitfalls involved in the development and deployment of self-driving technology.