Cruise will dispatch some of its trouble-ridden robotaxis to join Uber’s ride-hailing service

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. poised / pɔɪzd / (adj.) – fully prepared to act or do a specific task at any moment
    Example:

    The company is poised for growth next year as it will release new products.


  2. tamp down / tæmp daʊn / (phrasal v.) – to reduce or lessen the amount, importance, or level of something
    Example:

    The government’s new policy will help tamp down the cost of essential items.


  3. audacious / ɔˈdeɪ ʃəs / (adj.) – bold, confident, courageous that can be impressive or surprising
    Example:

    The small restaurant’s audacious goal is to open other branches all over the country.


  4. autonomous / ɔˈtɒn ə məs / (adj.) – (of a vehicle) having the technology to operate itself without human control
    Example:

    A car company is improving the technology used in autonomous cars so they can be safer to use.


  5. underscore / ˈʌn dərˌskɔr / (v.) – to show the importance of something
    Example:

    The president’s speech underscores the need for quality education.


Article

Read the text below.

Cruise’s trouble-ridden robotaxis are joining Uber’s ride-hailing service next year as part of a multiyear partnership bringing together two companies that were once poised to compete for passengers.


The alliance is the latest change in direction for Cruise since its California license to provide driverless rides was suspended in October 2023 after one of its robotaxis dragged a jaywalking pedestrian who had been struck by a human-driven vehicle across a darkened San Francisco street.


The incident spurred regulatory inquiries into Cruise and prompted its corporate parent, automaker General Motors (GM), to tamp down its once audacious ambitions in autonomous driving.


GM had envisioned Cruise generating $1 billion in annual revenue by 2025 as its robotaxis steadily expanded beyond San Francisco and into other cities to offer a driverless alternative to the ride-hailing services operated by Uber and Lyft.


But now GM and Cruise are looking to make money by mixing the robotaxis with Uber’s human-driven cars, giving passengers the option to ask for an autonomous ride if they want. The financial details of the partnership weren’t disclosed, nor were the cities in which Uber intends to offer Cruise’s robotaxis next year.


Unless something changes, California won’t be in the mix of options because Cruise’s license remains suspended in the state.


Meanwhile, a robotaxi fleet operated by Google spinoff Waymo is expanding beyond San Francisco into cities around the Bay Area and Southern California. Waymo announced its robotaxis are completing more than 100,000 paid rides per week—a number that includes its operations in Phoenix, where it has been operating for several years.


Cruise is currently operating Chevy Bolts autonomously in Phoenix and Dallas, with humans sitting behind the wheel ready to take over if something goes wrong. The Uber deal underscores Cruise’s determination to get back to the point where its robotaxis navigate the roads entirely on their own.


“Cruise is on a mission to leverage driverless technology to create safer streets and redefine urban life,” said Cruise CEO Marc Whitten, who is filling a void created after Cruise founder Kyle Vogt stepped down in the fallout from the California license suspension.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Uber users may be able to choose between a robotaxi and a human-driven car because of Uber’s partnership with Cruise. If you were to choose, which between a robotaxi and a human-driven car would you pick? Why? Discuss.
  • What do you think about having different transportation options? Do you think this will improve your travel experience or make it more difficult? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • As a commuter, what do you think about Uber’s partnership with a company that had safety issues? If Uber introduced Cruise’s robotaxis in your country, would you use it? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • How do safety issues affect your trust in a product or service? In your country, what product/service has had a safety issue in the past? How did the issue affect the parent company of this product/service? Did you continue using this product/brand? Discuss.