(Reuters) – Self-driving technology company Motional said on Tuesday it will cut jobs as part of a restructuring plan while focusing on developing core technology and delaying the introduction of commercial robotaxis.
The development comes ahead of electric car maker Tesla's Aug. 8 announcement of a robotaxi called “CyberCab,” which comes as traditional automakers face regulatory and safety hurdles. is limiting spending on expensive self-driving technology.
Auto parts supplier Aptiv sold its stake in Motional, a joint venture with Hyundai, last week, with the South Korean automaker announcing it would provide an additional $475 million in funding to the startup.
“Large-scale driverless deployment will not happen overnight. ,” CEO Karl Ignema said in a blog post.
As part of Motional's restructuring process, the company will reduce its workforce and focus resources on the development and ubiquity of its unmanned technology, while “not focusing on near-term commercial deployments or ancillary activities.” Ta.
The company did not say how many employees would be laid off, but said roles across locations and departments were affected.
Motional has partnered with ride-hailing platforms Uber and Lyft to offer driverless taxi services. The company said it has completed more than 100,000 self-driving trips in Las Vegas and a food delivery in Los Angeles.
(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bangalore; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
