GM Repurposes Cruise EVs for Driver-Assist Testing After Robotaxi Setback

General Motors is pivoting its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit toward more practical applications, repurposing its electric fleet for internal testing of driver-assistance systems. The MOVE comes after Cruise's high-profile shutdown in December 2023 following safety incidents and $8 billion in investments.

A limited number of Cruise Bolt EVs have quietly returned to roads in Michigan, Texas, and California's Bay Area—now stripped of Cruise branding and rebadged as "Mint" vehicles. These human-driven test cars, equipped with lidar sensors, are collecting data to enhance GM's Super Cruise technology rather than pursuing full autonomy.

The strategic shift reflects broader industry trends as automakers scale back moonshot ambitions in favor of incremental advances. GM's approach demonstrates how legacy manufacturers can salvage technology investments while addressing real-world safety concerns—a cautionary tale for the volatile autonomous vehicle sector.