Full Breakdown
GM Targets 2028 Launch of “Eyes-Off” Driving System for Cadillac Escalade IQ
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Development Milestone
General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the automaker stays on track to introduce an “eyes-off, hands-off” driving technology by 2028, starting with the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ. The system will let drivers look away from the road under defined conditions, extending the current Super Cruise platform, which still requires drivers to keep their eyes on the roadway.
Background & Context
- In December 2024, GM exited its Cruise robotaxi business after spending more than $10 billion, redirecting resources toward personal-vehicle autonomy.
- Super Cruise, launched in 2017, is now on more than 20 GM models and operates on over 630,000 mapped roads in the United States and Canada.
Testing Approach
At the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, GM runs a 360-degree immersive simulator that records drivers’ eye movements, heart rate and stress levels while they navigate virtual scenarios such as construction zones, rain and unexpected obstacles. Senior manager Maureen August said the company also uses games like Candy Crush to keep participants engaged and to measure how quickly they can be pulled away from a task.
Data & Statistics
- Super Cruise coverage: > 630,000 roads.
- Models equipped with the current hands-free system: > 20.
- Simulation participants: hundreds of volunteer drivers.
Official Statements & Responses
Barra emphasized that GM is “not in the taxi business” and that exiting the robotaxi market was “the right decision” for focusing on personal autonomy. She added that autonomous features will not erode personal car ownership, noting earlier predictions that ride-hailing would sharply cut vehicle sales never materialized.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We're not in the taxi business. We're not in the bus business,” — Mary Barra, GM CEO
- “Going eyes off is really the turning point where consumers will be more willing to pay for this feature, because when you go eyes off, now you’re really potentially giving the driver back some time, because they don’t have to be paying attention to the road,” — Sam Abuelsamid, Telemetry
- “You can take your hands off the wheel and keep your eyes on the roads, but safely enjoy a de-stressed drive on those roads in your normal, everyday commutes,” — Tyson Becker, GM autonomous vehicle strategy director
- “There isn’t really much in the way of real regulation that governs these systems today,” — Sam Abuelsamid, Telemetry
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Telemetry’s Sam Abuelsamid noted that regulation is limited and approvals are pursued “state by state,” leaving the geographic scope of GM’s eyes-off system at launch uncertain.
What’s Next
GM plans to debut the next-generation Super Cruise on the Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028 and then expand the feature to additional models, contingent on regulatory clearances and further testing outcomes.
