Cruise is testing autonomous Chevrolet Bolt prototypes in San Francisco, Phoenix and outside Detroit. Photo credit: REUTERS
UPDATED: 6/15/18 5:54 pm ET – adds details
General Motors Co. is having early discussions internally and with banks about strategic options for its self-driving car unit Cruise Automation, according to people familiar with the matter.
The company is researching possibilities including a public offering of shares, listing a separate tracking stock to reflect its value, or spinning off the unit, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. GM won’t make a decision until Cruise is further along in development and may not take any action for a couple of years, if at all.
While a public offering may be well into its future, the exploration shows how far Cruise has come since it was acquired two years ago as a 50-person firm. It’s now attracting capital, hiring by the hundreds and aiming to offer an app-based, ride-hailing service next year. The company, whose autonomous vehicle prototypes are still in the testing phase, wants to demonstrate commercial viability and build out a business before moving forward with any plans, said two of the people. GM declined to comment.
The exploration also underscores that GM sees Cruise, which develops self-driving cars in San Francisco, as a vital piece of the company’s future that could be fostered by raising its profile with investors. Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra sees it as a huge strategic asset and a source of future profits. Last month, SoftBank Vision Fund announced plans to invest $2.25 billion in Cruise at an $11.5 billion valuation.
The SoftBank fund is putting an initial $900 million into Cruise this year, followed by $1.35 billion once its autonomous vehicles are ready for business use. The fund will own 19.6 percent of Cruise once the entire investment is completed. If the unit doesn’t have an IPO, spinoff, sale or dissolution within seven years of closing the SoftBank investment, the fund may convert its stake into GM common stock, according to a regulatory filing.
“SoftBank’s investment is a huge mile marker for them in this process,” John Murphy, auto analyst for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said Thursday in a speech in Detroit. “GM is way out in the lead” on autonomous vehicles.
GM acquired Cruise in 2016 for $581 million in cash. The value of the deal was closer to $1 billion when including incentives for key talent including Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt. The purchase was a coup for the company, which is racing Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo and others to develop self-driving car technology that has the potential to transform transportation. Cruise is testing autonomous Chevrolet Bolt prototypes in San Francisco, Phoenix and outside Detroit.
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