Cruise GM MicrosoftAutomotive

Microsoft, GM, Cruise team up to commercialize autonomous vehicles

Carmaker General Motors (GM), which is a majority shareholder of self-driving car Cruise team up with technology giant Microsoft to accelerate the commercialization of autonomous vehicles. The companies will bring together their software and hardware engineering expertise, cloud computing capabilities, manufacturing know-how, and partner ecosystem to transform transportation to create a safer, cleaner, and more accessible world for everyone.

“Together with Cruise and GM, we will apply the power of Azure to make autonomous transportation mainstream,” Satya Nadela, CEO, Microsoft, said in a Tweet.

To unlock the potential of cloud computing for self-driving vehicles, Cruise will leverage Azure, Microsoft’s cloud and edge computing platform, to commercialize its unique autonomous vehicle solutions at scale. Microsoft, as Cruise’s preferred cloud provider, will also tap into Cruise’s deep industry expertise to enhance its customer-driven product innovation and serve transportation companies across the globe through continued investment in Azure.

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Microsoft will join General Motors, Honda and institutional investors in a combined new equity investment of more than $2 billion in Cruise, bringing the post-money valuation of Cruise to $30 billion.

“Advances in digital technology are redefining every aspect of our work and life, including how we move people and goods,” said Nadella in a media advisory. “As Cruise and GM’s preferred cloud, we will apply the power of Azure to help them scale and make autonomous transportation mainstream.”

“Microsoft will help us accelerate the commercialization of Cruise’s all-electric, self-driving vehicles and help GM realize even more benefits from cloud computing as we launch 30 new electric vehicles globally by 2025 and create new businesses and services to drive growth,” said Mary Barra, chair and CEO, GM chair and CEO Mary Barra.

GM will work with Microsoft as its preferred public cloud provider to accelerate its digitization initiatives, including collaboration, storage, artificial intelligence, and machine learning capabilities. GM will explore opportunities with Microsoft to streamline operations across digital supply chains, foster productivity, and bring new mobility services to customers faster.