Driverless Cruise vehicles resume testing operations in Texas

TEXAS (KXAN) -- The ride-hailing service Uber is collaborating with autonomous vehicle company Cruise to bring driverless services to the app, Uber announced Thursday.

The partnership will formally launch next year with "a dedicated number of Chevy Bolt-based autonomous vehicles" in Uber services, the release said. Once operational, Uber customers seeking a ride might have the option of taking a driverless Uber for their trip.

“Cruise is on a mission to leverage driverless technology to create safer streets and redefine urban life," said Marc Whitten, CEO of Cruise, in the release. "We are excited to partner with Uber to bring the benefits of safe, reliable, autonomous driving to even more people, unlocking a new era of urban mobility."

It's the second of a marked return for Cruise operations, after the company announced last October it would pause all driverless operations will taking "steps to rebuild public trust." Back in June, the company confirmed it had resumed manual driving test operations in Phoenix, Houston and Dallas.

Prior to its pause last fall, Cruise had been testing vehicles in Austin. It was a testing period marked by some residential and public safety concerns, including vehicles malfunctioning and stopping in the middle of Austin streets, inundating various neighborhoods and veering into bike lanes while operating.

The City of Austin launched an AV Safety Task Force to include assistance and perspective from Austin-Travis County EMS, the Austin Police Department and the Austin Fire Department on how to navigate situations involving AVs. However, AVs are ultimately regulated at the state level, as opposed to by local jurisdictions.

“State law preempts local authority of self-driving vehicles,” an Austin Transportation and Public Works Department spokesperson previously told KXAN. “[Senate Bill] 2205 made rules uniform for AVs across the state, putting regulation and oversight in the hands of the state government rather than local municipalities.”

In an email to KXAN Friday, a spokesperson for the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department said they aren't aware of any plans for Cruise to resume operations in Austin at this time.