GM Working On Self-Driving Tech Behind Closed Doors

General Motors wants to take the lead in the self-driving car race and reports indicate GM is doing just that behind closed doors.

General Motors is pushing to be the leader in both mass-market electric and self-driving technology. The Chevy Bolt is slated to be on the roads by 2017. It’s an EV for the masses with an electric range of 200 miles. GM will also introduce their Super Cruise next year in select models that will allow drivers to take their hands-off approach to certain driving environments.

The Detroit Free press reported that General Motors CEO, Mary Barra, recently spoke about GM innovation saying, “Next year we’re going to have Super Cruise on one of our Cadillacs. On highways you’ll be able to take your hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals – with a very creative way to make sure the driver is alert and involved in the driving process. And we do have a lot of efforts that are confidential that we’re working on in all aspects of autonomous.”

General Motors finds themselves in two races, one against Google and all other automakers to put a self-driving vehicle into the hands of consumers and the other with Tesla to build a mass-market electric vehicle. While Barra noted that much of GM’s work on autonomous vehicle tech is private, it’s efforts to construct a mass-market electric vehicle are well known. GM has unveiled the Bolt, the 200-mile EV mentioned earlier to compete with the Tesla Model 3. Both vehicles are expected to cost around $30,000-$35,000 after electric vehicle tax credits. While GM has shown off the Bolt in all of its glory before a international auto show environment, Tesla hasn’t so much as released a sketch of the Model III.

GM is going to encourage consumers to feel free to take their hands off the steering wheel in certain situations next year – what do you think of that technology? How long will it take before consumers are comfortable allowing a computer to direct them down the road? What impact do you see self-driving having on retail automotive?