Cruise has unveiled its wheelchair accessible Origin autonomous vehicle, which could start testing on public streets next year
But Cruise says that this is just its first generation of wheelchair-accessible vehicle and that it plans to update the design based on feedback from users, reports. To get to this point, it says it has spent three years developing the concept with help from GM as well as BraunAbility and Q’Straint, its accessible vehicle design partners. It also consulted with its advisory council on accessibility.
Cruise and other autonomous vehicle companies have faced criticism over this matter. Although the autonomous space has been championed with disabilities for their promise, the speed at which options have emerged led some to question whether accessibility was a priority for these companies.whose accessibility model is being advertised, but it comes on the heels of CEO Kyle Vogt’s promise that regulatory approval for the vehicle would be announced shortly. That makes the timing of this announcement interesting.
Whatever the reason, an accessible autonomous vehicle would mark the fulfillment of one of the technology’s big promises: mobility for all. However, for now, the vehicle must still be validated on closed courses, but Cruise says that if all goes well, pilot tests on public streets could start taking place in 2024.