Jan 2021

Microsoft Invests in Cruise

GM’s autonomous vehicle (AV) subsidiary, Cruise, announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft this week. The agreement aims at Cruise and Microsoft’s Azure cloud and edge computing platform to assist in commercializing AVs. This will make Microsoft the preferred public cloud provider to GM.

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

The partnership will not only allow Cruise to accelerate the commercialization of its all-electric, self-driving vehicles, it helps “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, GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said.