Cruise, the self-driving car company, admitted that they still rely on remote assistance (RA) for approximately 2-4% of total driving time. During this RA period, the time includes instances where the car requests help but can resolve the issue itself, as well as cases where it simply seeks confirmation to address a problem as planned.
Kyle Vogt, CEO of Cruise, responded to The New York Times article stating that the company intentionally employs 1.5 times more staff than necessary to accommodate high-demand periods. This 1.5 ratio likely includes support staff such as drivers, cleaners, and mechanics. Vogt confirmed that the employee-to-car ratio will improve to have a larger fleet in the future.
However, Cruise has faced significant challenges lately. The company recently had its self-driving license suspended in California after an accident where a Cruise vehicle dragged a pedestrian.
TLDR: Cruise, the self-driving car company, acknowledges their reliance on remote assistance for a small portion of driving time. CEO Kyle Vogt explained the purposeful surplus of staff to handle peak demand, ensuring a larger fleet in the future. Despite this, Cruise faced setbacks with the suspension of their self-driving license after a vehicle accident.
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