In a surprising move, General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit has appointed Marc Whitten, a former Amazon and Microsoft executive, as its new CEO. Whitten brings with him a wealth of experience from his time at some of the most prominent tech companies in the world, including Microsoft’s Xbox and Amazon.
The decision to bring in a new CEO comes at a crucial time for Cruise, as the company faces challenges in testing and relaunching its autonomous vehicles on public roadways. A recent accident involving a Cruise robotaxi resulted in the dragging of a pedestrian in San Francisco, leading to the suspension of operations and the departure of key leaders, including the previous CEO and co-founder Kyle Vogt.
Despite these setbacks, General Motors sees Whitten as the right person to lead Cruise into the future. GM CEO Mary Barra believes that Whitten’s experience in scaling products and building ecosystems will be crucial in realizing Cruise’s vision of creating technology that benefits society. This vision aligns with GM’s goal of doubling its revenue by the end of the decade, making Cruise a vital part of the company’s growth strategy.
A third-party probe into the October incident revealed cultural issues, ineptitude, and poor leadership as contributing factors to the accident. While allegations of a cover-up were investigated, no evidence was found to support these claims. Cruise was in the process of expanding its operations to generate revenue for GM, which has been the majority owner since 2016. With investments from companies like Honda Motor, Microsoft, and Walmart, Cruise is positioning itself for success in the autonomous vehicle market.
In addition to appointing Whitten as CEO, GM announced other executive changes within Cruise. Nick Mulholland, formerly of Rivian, will take on the role of chief marketing and communications officer. Craig Glidden, GM’s former legal and chief policy officer, will now serve as president and chief administrative officer at Cruise. This reshuffling of leadership aims to bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the company as it navigates the challenges ahead.
With Marc Whitten at the helm, General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit is poised for a new chapter of growth and innovation. As the company resumes testing in key markets like Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas, the focus is on developing technology that not only advances the autonomous vehicle industry but also provides real, tangible benefits to society. The appointment of Whitten signals a new direction for Cruise and reaffirms GM’s commitment to shaping the future of transportation.
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