General Motor’s self-driving car subsidiary Cruise said on Tuesday it would partner with Microsoft to accelerate the commercialization of driverless vehicles.
Microsoft will join GM, Honda Motor Co and institutional investors in a combined new equity investment of more than $2 billion in Cruise, bringing the post-money valuation of the San Francisco-based startup to $30 billion.
Cruise will use Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, for its self-driving vehicles.
Other automakers, including Volkswagen and Toyota Motor Corp, have used Azure for operations and services other than self-driving.
GM will work with Microsoft to accelerate the automaker’s digitization initiatives, including artificial intelligence, and explore opportunities to streamline operations across digital supply chains and bring new mobility services, including robotaxis and last-mile deliveries, to customers faster.
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft and GM. Yet more proof that two wrongs don’t make a right. What’ll this dynamic duo name the first model, Corvair? Or maybe Zune?
“Oh look. Apple is a car company. We’d better be a car company too.”
If Apple jumped off a cliff…
Now that Microsoft is involved GM announced that they will change the name from Cruise to Crash.
“Windows has noted that an oncoming vehicle has crossed the centreline. Do you want to take evasive action? Cancel or allow.”
Blue Screen of death…
I’m curious to know, NOT what you think the Apple Car base price will be, BUT what upper limit base price you are willing to fork out for Cupertino’s Edsel Apple Car before you tell Apple F-U to you and your F’n Car?
I don’t know regarding the price, but we are talking Apple. I’d imagine a lot of long faces with their out of joint noses pressed against the car dealer’s showroom window of a “cool” product based on a bunch of Apple quinquagenarian’s idea of what’s cool.
$50k for the base model. If you want a back seat for a couple more passengers it’ll be $100k. A boot for storage will bump it up to $250k. Plus a glove box for even more storage, $330k. As you said, “we are talking Apple”.
Today’s MS is hardly the company of the Ballmer Day’s. I’d say much of the sweaty and aimless residue is gone and the announcement is a worthy bow shot to, at least, take seriously.
With Honda also being a part of this new partnership and VW and Toyota already using Azure to some degree, it would be premature and ignorant to file this in the MS Zune Box.
Oh, and it’ll only have one door cos that’s all Apple reckon you need. The “Pro” model will have 2 doors but cost $500k.
When Blue Screen of Death becomes literal… 🙀
I said it above, but I read you beat me to it. Agreed!…
Microsoft are such a-holish scum, their cars are GUARANTEED to crash. Wouldn’t be caught live in one because I’d soon be dead in one. Steve Ballmer is welcome to drive in them though.
OMG, Steve. The unsteviest Steve that ever was, after Steve tried to be a real Steve
Corsair was a great little car. Today GM would have done a recall and fixed the rollover issue (not a costly fix) and the car would go on and enjoy a ngood life and reputation.
If it’s anything like the Ford collaboration with MSFT (Sync) it’ll surely be a disaster in the nth degree …
Pinto with Windows 3.12 ?
I’m so disappointed in Honda being involved in this idiotic venture.
This will be another car graveyard – just like AppliYundai
[START BUTTON JOKE THREAD] anyone?
When I bought a Ford with Sync, I discovered that it was unreliable connecting to my iPhone. The dealer insisted that my phone was too new and that cars have to be designed years ahead of launch.
When I wanted to buy a replacement, I had a new Ford for a weekend trial and found that it was unreliable connecting to that same iPhone. This time the dealer claimed that my phone was too old.
I challenged him to take me to a used car in his lot which was of an age where my iPhone would work perfectly and show me it working. Needless to say he made an excuse why he couldn’t do that.
Oh goody, another car with SYNC!
I wonder if the cars will come with Zune connectivity?
Car crashes. Tim Cook: You’re driving it wrong™
Wouldn’t past judgment so soon. Competition will drive better EVs. I have a Tesla and while it’s a dream to drive, there is room for lots of improvement. Customer service is also the poorest of any car maker.
Once again Microsoft FOLLOWS Apple’s development lead as they practiced with the first version release of Windows in the 1980s. Copycat grande!…