Walmart is taking the next step in its involvement with autonomous vehicles by investing in General Motors’ Cruise.
Cruise, based in San Francisco, is a subsidiary of GM and is focused on developing self-driving all-electric cars. Walmart is currently establishing a delivery pilot programme in Scottsdale, Arizona that will use Cruise’s vehicles for its deliveries.
Its investment in Cruise demonstrates its dedication to self-driving cars for its customers and business.
According to Cruise CEO, Dan Ammann, self-driving cars would make transportation safer, cleaner, and more available for everyone. Following a contract to be the city’s exclusive provider of self-driving taxis and ride-hailing services through 2029, the company plans to extend its operations to Dubai in 2023.
In addition, the automaker is focusing on its self-driving car testing in San Francisco. Its registered testing fleet will include more than 200 vehicles, but it has not stated when it expects to make a self-driving taxi business available to the general public. It was originally scheduled for 2019, but no further details have been released.
Walmart aims to achieve zero emissions by 2040 and to be powered entirely by renewable energy by 2035. With its all-electric vehicles and their common objective of taking concerted action on climate change, Cruise was identified as Walmart’s natural partner.
Source: CNBC
