GM tests eyes-off driving technology ahead of planned 2028 launch

General Motors is testing technology designed to let drivers take their eyes off the road, with the company aiming to launch a next-generation Super Cruise system in 2028 on the Cadillac Escalade IQ electric SUV. The system would go beyond today’s hands-free assistance, which still requires drivers to watch the road.

GM is using a 360-degree driving simulator at its Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, to test both vehicle technology and human responses. Hundreds of volunteer drivers have experienced simulated road conditions including hills, construction, rain and nearby traffic while researchers measure reactions such as eye movements and stress.

The shift matters to automakers because eyes-off driving could give drivers time to do other things in the cabin—and create a more valuable feature to sell. Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry, said drivers may be more willing to pay when a system gives them time back.

How GM is testing the system

Simulations let developers test how people and vehicle systems might respond to changing conditions without putting drivers into those real-world situations. GM says the technology must be able to handle unexpected events, such as an animal or child entering the road, or a construction zone that was not anticipated by a navigation app.

GM has sold Super Cruise since 2017. The current system is a driver-assistance feature, not self-driving: it allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on supported roads while keeping their eyes on the road. GM says it is available on more than 630,000 roads in the United States and Canada, as well as roads elsewhere.

What eyes-off driving would change

GM executive Tyson Becker said the planned technology is intended to let drivers look at a phone or laptop, take a meeting or watch a movie while the system is active. The company has not announced the system’s full operating limits or detailed availability plans beyond its planned 2028 launch on the Escalade IQ.

Abuelsamid said automakers are targeting highway-speed systems that can operate on a wider variety of roads than many current features. More than 20 GM models across Cadillac, GMC, Buick and Chevrolet currently offer Super Cruise, and the company plans to expand that lineup.

This report draws on information from The Business Journal.