A team-up between the world’s largest automaker and the world’s leader in autonomous driving obviously has huge implications
Tech
GM to pay $220 million to resolve claims it sold driving habits data
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Published 10/29/2026 2:19:28 PM
GM to pay $220 million to resolve claims it sold driving habits data
A coalition of 36 state attorneys general secured the settlement, which also requires GM to limit the data it collects.
A coalition of 36 state attorneys general secured the settlement, which also requires GM to limit the data it collects.
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.
General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims that it illegally sold driver and location information to data brokers, as reported earlier by Reuters. The agreement, which resolves a complaint from a coalition of 36 US attorneys general, requires GM to limit the driving data it collects and obtain “express consent” from drivers before collecting their information.
The allegations surround GM’s now-discontinued Smart Driver program, which collected data about driving habits, including acceleration, braking, and trip length. GM allegedly passed this information to data brokers, enabling insurance companies to purchase the data and raise premiums. The states also accused GM of failing to notify drivers that they were enrolled in its Smart Driver program, and that the carmaker was collecting their data.
“This agreement addresses Smart Driver, a product we ended in 2024, and reinforces steps we’ve taken to strengthen our privacy practices,” GM spokesperson Charlotte McCoy said in an emailed statement to The Verge. “Safer, more helpful and personalized experiences are enabled by connected vehicle data, and GM is committed to being clear about what information is used, how it’s protected, and the choices customers have about what they share.”
This settlement comes just months after GM agreed to pay $12.75 million to settle similar claims in California. Oregon AG Dan Rayfield and Washington AG Nick Brown co-led the states’ case against GM, which also included New York, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and many others.
“People bought a car, not a tracking device,” Rayfield says in a press release. “GM told drivers this program would help them drive more safely and promised it wouldn’t share their data with insurers without permission. Our investigation found GM sold that data anyway, and some drivers paid for it with higher premiums.”
Update, October 29th: Added a statement from GM.
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Toyota will assemble Waymo-equipped bZ4X electric SUVs directly on its factory line in Japan ahead of planned robotaxi rollouts in Tokyo and the UK.
Toyota will assemble Waymo-equipped bZ4X electric SUVs directly on its factory line in Japan ahead of planned robotaxi rollouts in Tokyo and the UK.
is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.
Waymo announced today that it will use Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles that are assembled in Japan for a robotaxi service in Tokyo. The news builds on the strategic partnership between Waymo and Toyota which was first announced in April 2025.
The robotaxis will be built entirely under one roof at Toyota’s Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Instead of building regular cars and modifying them later, the factory will install Waymo’s self-driving sensors and computers right on the assembly line as each car is made.
A team-up between the world’s largest automaker and the world’s leader in autonomous driving obviously has huge implications. Currently, Waymo uses two vehicle models on the road today — the Jaguar I-Pace and Ojai based on the Zeekr RT — with a third based on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 set to deploy soon. By adding the bZ4X, Waymo is attempting to prove that its autonomous driving technology is compatible with a wide range of vehicle types. Waymo has long positioned itself as a software and systems supplier — the “Waymo Driver” — rather than an automaker.
This also represents a shift in terms of how Waymo acquires and modifies the vehicles that end up in its fleet. Up until now, the company was doing things the hard way by buying a finished car from a factory, shipping it to a separate facility, and retrofitting it with sensors, computers, and extra wiring. The decision to build the sensor suite and compute into the bZ4X on Toyota’s own assembly line could help eliminate redundant labor, bespoke brackets, and secondary shipping — and possibly bring down costs for Waymo.
Waymo says it will begin initial testing and validation in Japan starting next year. Following that, the new vehicles will roll out to the United Kingdom, in addition to other international markets, for robotaxi operations.
Waymo also says it is continuing to explore integrating its technology into Toyota vehicles for personally owned autonomous vehicles. And the company is working with Woven by Toyota, the automaker’s software and mobility spinout, to use Waymo’s operational and safety telemetry to improve road safety across general vehicle fleets and traffic infrastructure.
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