GM to Launch Eyes-Off, Hands-Off Driving System in 2028

General Motors' Upcoming Automated Driving System

General Motors has announced its intention to introduce a fully automated driving system by 2028. This system will enable drivers to operate vehicles without needing to maintain eye contact with the road or keep their hands on the steering wheel.

The initial rollout of this technology will be featured in the Cadillac Escalade IQ. This announcement was made during the GM Forward event held in New York City on Wednesday.

Building on Super Cruise

This development follows reports from a year prior, initially covered by TechCrunch, detailing GM’s work on this advanced system. The company emphasizes that its existing Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) serves as the foundational technology for this future capability.

Currently available in 23 vehicle models, Super Cruise operates on approximately 600,000 miles of designated highways. It represents a significant step towards fully automated driving.

Technology and Implementation

The new, eyes-off, hands-off system will utilize a combination of lidar, radar, and cameras to perceive its surroundings. Initially, operation will be limited to highway environments.

GM CEO Mary Barra indicated that the deployment of this eyes-off system will be expedited compared to the initial rollout of the hands-off Super Cruise ADAS.

Leveraging Cruise Expertise

GM is integrating the expertise of engineers previously involved with its now-discontinued autonomous vehicle technology subsidiary, Cruise, to enhance the capabilities of the new system.

Following the shutdown of Cruise’s robotaxi business in December 2024, its resources were absorbed into GM’s existing driver assistance development efforts. The company has also been actively rehiring Cruise engineers over the past year.

The technology stack from Cruise, including AI models trained on five million miles of driverless operation and a robust simulation framework, is being incorporated into GM’s next-generation driver assistance and autonomy programs.

Cost and Scalability

Sterling Anderson, GM’s executive vice president of global product, highlighted the importance of cost reduction in autonomous vehicle technology. He noted that the initial focus on robotaxis was logical due to the high cost of sensors and computing power, necessitating high vehicle utilization.

However, he added that significant cost reductions in hardware have occurred across the industry in 2025. GM is uniquely positioned to leverage its large install base and manufacturing capacity to produce these systems at scale and lower costs.

Competitive Landscape

Currently, Mercedes-Benz is the sole automaker offering a commercially available hands-off, eyes-off system in the U.S. These systems align with the SAE’s Level 3 automation, which allows for self-driving under specific conditions but requires human intervention when necessary.

Mercedes’ Drive Pilot is currently restricted to mapped highways in California and Nevada, functioning primarily in congested, low-speed traffic.

GM’s System Capabilities

According to Baris Cetinok, GM’s senior vice president of software and services, GM’s system will operate on highways without requiring pre-mapping. Human takeover will be necessary for maneuvers like exiting highways, but the system is designed to manage emergencies and unexpected events.

Cetinok emphasized that the system should not rely on human intervention as a response to sudden incidents.

The launch of this system would position GM as a leader in automated driving technology, ahead of many competitors. Stellantis has unveiled a similar Level 3 system but has temporarily paused its launch. Tesla continues to pursue “full self-driving” capabilities, relying on cameras and neural networks, but its Autopilot and FSD systems still require driver attention.