GM Develops Eyes-Off, Hands-Off Level 3 Driving System
General Motors plans to upgrade its Super Cruise technology into a Level 3 system that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road. This advancement puts GM in direct competition with Mercedes-Benz as the only automakers offering this capability in the US.
General Motors is developing an advanced Level 3 driving system that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road and keep their hands off the wheel. This new technology builds on GM's existing Super Cruise feature, which currently requires drivers to remain attentive even though their hands are free. Senior Vice President Dave Richardson confirms that the company is aggressively working to transition Super Cruise from a Level 2 system to a true Level 3 experience.
Unlike fully autonomous robotaxis that operate without human intervention at Level 4, this new system still requires a driver to be present and ready to take control if necessary. The technology primarily operates on highways at reduced speeds, utilizing a combination of lidar map data, cameras, radar, and high-precision GPS. This approach currently puts GM ahead of most competitors, as major systems like Tesla's Autopilot and Ford's Blue Cruise remain strictly at Level 2.
Mercedes-Benz currently stands as the only other automaker offering a limited hands-off, eyes-off system in the United States. GM originally pioneered hands-free driving in 2017 but initially limited the technology to a single Cadillac model and specific divided highways. Today, Super Cruise is widely available across Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, and GM projects the system will function on about 750,000 miles of US roads by the end of 2025.