GM says you’ll be able to look away from the road in a Cadillac in 2028. What it hasn’t said is what that will cost, or exactly when it will work. Here, we summarize what we knew, what we now know, and what we will soon know about GM’s autonomous driving tech.
What We Know
CEO Mary Barra has mentioned to the public that the eyes-off, hands-off system remains on track, according to TIKR‘s summary of the interview. She said a recent test ride showed clear improvement since her March drive. According to GM, the debut vehicle is the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ, with other models to follow. When GM unveiled the system in October 2025, reports said it would use lidar, radar, and cameras and start on highways, including roads GM hasn’t mapped. It builds on the Cruise robotaxi work GM suspended in December 2024 after spending more than $10 billion. Barra says the focus is personal cars: “We’re not in the taxi business.”
What We Don’t
How much it will cost – GM hasn’t announced pricing, and it hasn’t said whether the feature will be standard, optional, or a subscription. TIKR, citing GM’s July earnings call, says Super Cruise subscriptions already convert 30 to 40 percent of customers after the trial period. That is secondhand, but it hints at how GM thinks about software revenue, and from what we know, GM sees subscriptions as a bigger business.
Which cars get it next? – GM’s wording is “starting with” the Escalade IQ. No other models have been named.
What “compatible conditions” means – GM says drivers can look away under those conditions, but hasn’t defined them.
Reports say human takeover is mainly needed for off-ramps. How does it compare to today? Super Cruise already lets drivers go hands-free, but drivers must watch the road. Eyes-off is the legal and safety leap, and GM hasn’t said how it will handle drivers who aren’t paying attention. From what is apparent, GM might not be able to answer these questions because the legal framework to support this technology may simply not be ready yet.
