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Cruise Automation plans to double in size in 2019, report says

The GM-funded self-driving car startup will double its current workforce this year in advance of launching its autonomous taxi program.

Kyle Hyatt Former news and features editor
Kyle Hyatt (he/him/his) hails originally from the Pacific Northwest, but has long called Los Angeles home. He's had a lifelong obsession with cars and motorcycles (both old and new).
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Cruise is planning on doubling its staff by the end of 2019 in advance of launching a robotaxi service.

Cruise Automation

The GM-backed autonomous vehicle startup Cruise is getting ready to go on a hiring spree in the next year. A Reuters report published on Monday confirmed that the company plans to double in size by the end of 2019.

Why such rapid expansion? Well, the company is pushing to get its self-driving taxi service up and running. To do that, it's going to need a lot more people, mostly engineers according to Cruise spokesperson Ray Wert in a statement to Reuters.

This is hardly the latest personnel shakeup at Cruise either. Former GM President Dan Ammann left his position at the General to head up things at Cruise, allowing former CEO Kyle Vogt to transition to president and chief technology officer.

With this massive expansion on the horizon and GM money to back it, it will be interesting to see if Cruise can execute its taxi plan and move out of the shadow of other self-driving car companies like Waymo.

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