General Motors’ self-driving vehicle unit, Cruise, has attracted new investors and an equity infusion of $1.15 billion as it continues work on its commercial fleet of autonomous taxis. The new investment, which effectively brings the operation’s valuation to $19 billion, is primarily fronted by Baltimore-based asset management company T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. and existing partners like SoftBank’s Vision Fund and Honda Motor Co.
“Developing and deploying self-driving vehicles at massive scale is the engineering challenge of our generation,” said Cruise CEO Dan Ammann. “Having deep resources to draw on as we pursue our mission is a critical competitive advantage.”
Considering Cruise has one of the most ambitious timelines of any mainstay automaker, it likely needs all the help that it can get. Last year, we learned of setbacks plaguing the program — a phenomenon not uncommon among companies developing self-driving systems. However, some of the capital funneled into the program is dependent on Cruise hitting proposed target dates — the first of which involves launching a commercial service by the end of this year.
Otherwise, the things have been going well for the company. Sizable investments have helped the firm, which began as a startup with around 40 employees, grow to a workforce over 1,000 strong. It’s also currently expanding is San Francisco offices and intends to lay additional roots in Seattle, hiring hundreds of new engineers. Ultimately, GM leadership sees its autonomous arm doubling in size before year’s end.
[Image: General Motors]
Maybe GM knows something all the other autonomous-driving companies farting around the edge of a giant quicksand they had all initially assumed was a clay pan and a mere jaunt to cross don’t. Is it likely?
I’d love to be a fly on the wall listening to the tall tales all these geniuses tell each other, as yet another billion is poured in, presumably by investors who are so un-tech-savvy, they think they’re going to be swimming in profits in a mere year or two.
Yes, and I’d love to know where they think those profits (let alone revenue) will come from.
Short term thinking companies like GM don’t even ask those questions. They think only in the moment not the long term.
a rathole stinks no matter which bankster rat runs the joint.
Anyone still selling buggy whips?
Only a billion? Pfft — chump change in Silly Con Valley. A beautiful place where snow never blocks lidar optics, and operating profits are completely optional.
A billion dollars for a Google spy car? Ridiculous.