Microsoft Corp. plans to take an $800 million charge after General Motors Co. said it was shutting down its autonomous taxi initiative.

General Motors Co.’s Cruise self-driving car unit will exit the robotaxi business, a retreat from a market that proved costly and full of reputational pitfalls for the automaker.

Autonomous vehicle maker Cruise has admitted to a federal charge and agreed to pay a $500,000 fine in connection with a crash last year involving one of its vehicles that left a person injured.

Waymo on Nov. 12 opened its robotaxi service to anyone who wants a ride around Los Angeles, marking another milestone in the evolution of self-driving car technology.

The enforcement action stems from an October 2023 incident in San Francisco in which a Cruise robotaxi dragged a pedestrian about 20 feet before coming to a complete stop.

Cruise is targeting a return to running fully autonomous rides later this year and possibly charging fares by early 2025, said people familiar with the matter.

General Motors on June 25 named a veteran technology executive with roots in the video game industry to steer its troubled robotaxi service Cruise.

General Motors’ troubled Cruise autonomous vehicle unit said May 13 that it will start testing robotaxis in Arizona this week with human safety drivers on board.

Cruise is preparing to resume testing its robotaxis with safety drivers in Phoenix, marking an important step in its attempts to resume service after grounding its fleet last year.

GM’s Cruise autonomous unit is nearing the resumption of testing in the coming weeks, with Houston and Dallas emerging as potential locations, according to people with knowledge of the matter.