General Motors’ Super Cruise driving assistance system works well and offers a generally pleasant experience, but it’s limited to the SAE Level 2 definition of autonomy, which states that the driver has to keep their eyes on the road at all times. That could change in the future, as the automaker recently announced that it wants to upgrade Super Cruise to true Level 3 automation, which will allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road.
GM’s SVP of software and services engineering, Dave Richardson, told TechCrunch that the automaker is working to boost Super Cruise’s capabilities, turning it into a Level 3 system. He said, “Super Cruise, I think, is an industry-leading Level 2 solution for hands-off, eyes-on. We’re looking aggressively to make that an L3 solution, where you don’t even have to look at the road anymore.”
Level 2 systems provide steering, acceleration, and braking for vehicles equipped with them, but the driver has to be ready to take over at any time and can’t relax. GM’s Super Cruise is the only such system that offers trailering support, but it’s important to note that none of the others are anywhere near Level 3 automation, despite fancy titles like Autopilot and Full Self-Driving.
GM currently offers Super Cruise on a range of vehicles, including the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado EV, Chevy Equinox EV, GMC Yukon, and more. It competes with Ford’s BlueCruise and Tesla’s FSD systems.
[Images: General Motors]
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