GM Unveils Eyes-Off, Hands-Off Driving System Set for 2028
General Motors (GM) has announced an ambitious plan to introduce an automated driving system by 2028, allowing drivers to take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, starting with the Cadillac Escalade IQ. This announcement was made during the GM Forward event in New York City and follows a year of speculation about the company’s advancements in autonomous driving technology. The new system builds on GM’s existing Super Cruise technology, which has been available since 2017 and is currently used in 23 vehicle models across 600,000 miles of highway.
Advancements in Driver Assistance Technology
GM’s upcoming automated driving system will utilize a combination of lidar, radar, and cameras to enhance its perception capabilities. This new technology is designed to operate primarily on highways, similar to the existing Super Cruise system. However, GM CEO Mary Barra emphasized that the rollout of this new eyes-off, hands-off system will occur more rapidly than the introduction of Super Cruise. The company aims to leverage the expertise of engineers from its now-defunct autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, to bolster the development of this advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).
In December 2024, GM absorbed Cruise after shutting down its commercial robotaxi business. This strategic move allowed GM to integrate Cruise’s technology and expertise into its own driver assistance initiatives. Over the past year, GM has also re-hired several engineers from Cruise to accelerate its goal of creating fully autonomous personal vehicles. The company is incorporating Cruise’s technology stack, which includes artificial intelligence models trained on five million driverless miles, into its next-generation driver assistance and autonomy programs.
Competitive Landscape in Autonomous Driving
Currently, Mercedes is the only automaker in the U.S. offering a commercially available hands-off, eyes-off driving system, known as Drive Pilot. This system operates under SAE Level 3 automation, which allows the vehicle to drive itself under specific conditions while still requiring human intervention. Drive Pilot is limited to certain mapped highways in California and Nevada and is designed for heavy, low-speed traffic.
In contrast, GM’s upcoming system will function on highways that have not been mapped, according to Baris Cetinok, GM’s senior vice president of software and services. He noted that the system will only necessitate human intervention for specific scenarios, such as navigating off-ramps, while being capable of handling emergencies and unexpected incidents. Cetinok emphasized that human intervention should not be seen as a fallback option for sudden situations.
Future Prospects and Industry Implications
The introduction of GM’s eyes-off, hands-off driving system could position the automaker ahead of its competitors in the race for autonomous vehicle technology. While Stellantis has unveiled its own Level 3 system, its launch has been postponed. Tesla, on the other hand, has been working towards achieving full self-driving capabilities using only cameras and neural networks, although its current Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems still require drivers to remain attentive.
Sterling Anderson, GM’s executive vice president of global product and a former co-founder of the autonomous vehicle startup Aurora Innovation, highlighted the importance of cost reduction in the industry. He stated that advancements in hardware have made it feasible to produce autonomous vehicles at larger volumes and lower costs. GM’s established manufacturing capacity and extensive customer base uniquely position it to capitalize on these developments, potentially leading to a significant shift in the market for personal autonomous vehicles.
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