Kyle Vogt, co-founder and CEO of Cruise, the autonomous vehicle company under GM, announced his resignation, triggering a leadership shuffle within the company. His exit comes in the wake of a challenging period marked by safety controversies and operational concerns, echoing a shift in the autonomous driving industry.
Mary Barra, GM’s Chair and CEO, revealed in internal emails seen by TechCrunch that Mo Elshenawy, Cruise’s EVP of engineering, will take the helm as the company’s president and CTO. Craig Glidden and Jon McNeill are set to retain their pivotal roles, steering Cruise’s strategies forward. However, as of now, no replacement has been named for the CEO position.
The leadership shuffle follows a setback for Cruise after the California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended its permits for operating self-driving vehicles on public roads due to an incident involving a Cruise robotaxi and a pedestrian. The incident raised concerns over safety protocols, prompting criticisms and suspension of operations in various states.
Vogt bid farewell to his role, acknowledging Cruise’s growth over the past decade, expressing faith in its trajectory, and inspiring optimism for the future. In parallel, he shared a similar message on social media, signaling plans for a break and exploration of new ventures.
Amid the upheaval, internal discontent emerged at Cruise, compounded by recent layoffs and stock-related concerns among employees. Cruise attempted to address the latter by revisiting its decision to suspend the employee share-selling program, offering a limited opportunity for certain employees to sell shares and pledging a plan for liquidity.
Vogt’s resignation marks a significant shift for Cruise, co-founded by Vogt and Dan Kan in 2013. The company initially focused on retrofitting vehicles for autonomy before pivoting to its current model and being acquired by GM in 2016. Vogt, recognized for his ventures like Twitch and Socialcam, has left a notable legacy in the tech industry.
This change in leadership at Cruise amidst operational challenges emphasizes the importance of safety and public trust in advancing autonomous vehicle technology.
