Kyle Vogt, CEO of Cruise, the autonomous vehicle unit owned by General Motors, has resigned. In a statement, Vogt said that his time at Cruise has been an incredible experience, but that the decision to step down was a personal one.
Vogt joined Cruise in 2013 and is credited with helping to turn the company into one of the leading autonomous vehicle companies in the world. Under his leadership, Cruise has secured partnerships with Honda and Microsoft, launched the first fleet of driverless vehicles in San Francisco, and released the all-electric Cruise Origin prototype.
Vogt’s resignation comes amid a period of rapid growth for Cruise, which is reportedly valued at over $30 billion. GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said that the company is focused on continuing to grow the business and that Vogt’s departure won’t impact the pace of its progress.
GM says that current president of Cruise, Dan Ammann, will remain in his role and will now be responsible for Cruise’s day-to-day operations. The company has not yet named a replacement for Vogt, but said that it is “working to find a strong leader to support Dan and the team in their mission.”
Robotaxi services have become a popular option for people in the transportation industry, and Cruise’s success has been a major factor in this emerging market. With Vogt’s departure, the company will have to find a way to maintain its course and continue to build on its successes.
Time will tell whether GM is able to find a CEO who can fill Vogt’s shoes and guide Cruise to even greater heights. Until then, the company will need to rely on the strong leadership of Ammann and the rest of its team to ensure its continued success.