GM is working to bring autonomous vehicle technology to BrightDrop cargo vans.
"GM engineers are currently working to install autonomous vehicle technology developed by the automaker’s Cruise subsidiary in its new BrightDrop electric delivery vans.
Sources familiar with GM’s plans told Bloomberg the automaker is currently working on the self-driving delivery vans with the eventual goal of launching a fully driverless package delivery service. The publication points out this would be a natural progression for GM, as it would entail combining the efforts of the Cruise and BrightDrop businesses that it already operates.
This project is still in its infancy, Bloomberg’s sources also said, as Cruise is still dedicating the vast majority of its resources to its self-driving robotaxi program. Cruise is currently offering free rides in its driverless Chevy Bolt EV test vehicles to San Francisco residents and hopes to soon receive state approval to begin charging customers fares for the rides. GM hopes to eventually operate an app-based ride-hailing service akin to Uber or Lyft using its fully driverless Origin robotaxi, which will enter production at the GM Factory Zero plant in Michigan later this year.
Cruise entered a partnership with American retail giant Walmart in 2020 to pilot a new autonomous delivery service, so the idea of driverless deliveries is not entirely new to Cruise. The pilot, which went live in early 2021, enables Walmart customers in Scottsdale, Arizona to place an order from their local Walmart store and have it delivered to them in one of Cruise’s driverless Bolt EV-based prototypes. This pilot program recently expanded to include more driving routes – a potential sign the autonomous deliveries are working as the two companies intended.
Walmart also counts itself among BrightDrop’s growing list of fleet customers, with the company placing an order for 5,000 of its Zevo 600 and smaller Zevo 400 vans in January. Other major BrightDrop customers include FedEx and MerchantsFleet."
"GM engineers are currently working to install autonomous vehicle technology developed by the automaker’s Cruise subsidiary in its new BrightDrop electric delivery vans.
Sources familiar with GM’s plans told Bloomberg the automaker is currently working on the self-driving delivery vans with the eventual goal of launching a fully driverless package delivery service. The publication points out this would be a natural progression for GM, as it would entail combining the efforts of the Cruise and BrightDrop businesses that it already operates.
This project is still in its infancy, Bloomberg’s sources also said, as Cruise is still dedicating the vast majority of its resources to its self-driving robotaxi program. Cruise is currently offering free rides in its driverless Chevy Bolt EV test vehicles to San Francisco residents and hopes to soon receive state approval to begin charging customers fares for the rides. GM hopes to eventually operate an app-based ride-hailing service akin to Uber or Lyft using its fully driverless Origin robotaxi, which will enter production at the GM Factory Zero plant in Michigan later this year.
Cruise entered a partnership with American retail giant Walmart in 2020 to pilot a new autonomous delivery service, so the idea of driverless deliveries is not entirely new to Cruise. The pilot, which went live in early 2021, enables Walmart customers in Scottsdale, Arizona to place an order from their local Walmart store and have it delivered to them in one of Cruise’s driverless Bolt EV-based prototypes. This pilot program recently expanded to include more driving routes – a potential sign the autonomous deliveries are working as the two companies intended.
Walmart also counts itself among BrightDrop’s growing list of fleet customers, with the company placing an order for 5,000 of its Zevo 600 and smaller Zevo 400 vans in January. Other major BrightDrop customers include FedEx and MerchantsFleet."
