GM Accelerates Self-Driving Tech with 1,100+ New California Jobs
Major Expansion for Cruise Automation Unit
General Motors (GM) announced plans to create over 1,100 new jobs in California over the next five years at its Cruise Automation subsidiary. This strategic move comes after securing $8 million in state tax credits, reinforcing GM’s commitment to leading the autonomous vehicle (AV) revolution.
Key Developments:
- $14 million investment in a new San Francisco R&D facility, more than doubling current workspace
- Expansion builds on GM’s $1 billion acquisition of Cruise Automation in March 2016
- Current fleet includes 50+ self-driving Chevrolet Bolt EVs being tested in:
- San Francisco
- Detroit metropolitan area
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Startup Agility in Autonomous Innovation
GM CEO Mary Barra emphasized the advantages of operating Cruise as a startup:
“This approach gives us the speed needed to maintain our leadership in autonomous technology development and market applications.”
California: The Autonomous Vehicle Hub
The Golden State continues to solidify its position as the epicenter of self-driving innovation:
- GM employed 485 California workers in 2017
- Projected to grow to 1,640+ employees by 2021
Panorea Avdis, Director of California’s Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, stated:
“GM’s expansion confirms California’s national leadership in AV design, engineering, and deployment.”
Industry-Wide Autonomous Shift
This move reflects broader automotive industry trends:
- Traditional automakers are aggressively investing in ride-sharing and AV technologies
- Companies are preparing for potential disruption in personal vehicle ownership models
- Cruise’s original technology focused on highway autonomous systems requiring no driver intervention
GM’s significant California expansion signals strong confidence in both Cruise’s technology and the state’s innovation ecosystem as the race toward autonomous mobility accelerates.
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