Uber groups up with Cruise to ship extra autonomous rides subsequent yr

Uber has signed up one other robotaxi firm to supply driverless rides inside its app. Beginning someday subsequent yr, for “qualifying” rides, Uber offers you the choice to take the journey in one in every of Cruise’s autonomous automobiles. The 2 corporations introduced a “multiyear strategic partnership” on Thursday.

Cruise halted its robotaxi service in October following an incident the place a Cruise automobile dragged a pedestrian. The corporate not too long ago introduced autonomous automobiles again to the highway with security drivers. Cruise spokesperson Tiffany Testo tells The Verge that the launch of its partnership with Uber will occur after Cruise brings again its driverless ridehailing service.

Of their press launch, Uber and Cruise didn’t say what cities the service is likely to be obtainable in, however Testo says that customers can “anticipate” it to launch in one of many cities the place it’s doing supervised testing: Phoenix, Dallas, and Houston.