Self-driving company Argo AI lays off about 150 people

According to foreign media reports, Argo AI, a self-driving technology company invested by Ford and Volkswagen Group, announced on July 7 that it is laying off about 150 employees.

A spokesman for the company said in a written statement that the layoffs were part of a "prudent adjustment to our business plan" as the company plans for its future growth.

Former Argo AIemployees who worked in the company's human resources, recruiting, technology procurement and communications departmentsshared the news of their layoffs on their respective LinkedIns.After the layoffs, the company still has more than 2,000 employees worldwide, a spokesman for Argo AI said.

Image credit: Argo AI

Over the past year, the Pittsburgh-based company has developed and launched new businesses at a rapid rate.Last September, the company began partnering with Walmart to offer delivery in Miami, Washington, DC and Austin, Texas.That same month, the company also started testing self-driving cars in Munich, Germany.

In December, Argo AI also partnered with Lyft and Ford to launch a ride-hailing service in Miami, a city that has been at the forefront of the company’s overall self-driving project for years.Two months ago, Argo began testing self-driving cars without human safety drivers in Miami.An Argo AI spokeswoman said the layoffs will not hinder the development of the partnership or slow down any plans by the company to develop commercial services around its self-driving system.