General Motors is putting Cruise Automation to work. The company, bought out by GM recently, once called the city by the bay home, and fruits of its labor were spied on public streets.
Autoblog reports on autonomous Chevrolet Bolt EV sightings in San Francisco, California, coupled with a more production ready Bolt EV. The autonomous variant can be seen slathered up in camouflage, and complete with driving sensors on the outside.
It’s likely all a precursor to GM’s partnership with ride-sharing service, Lyft, which the automaker invested $500 million into to advance autonomous driving technologies. GM stated it plans a fleet of self-driving Chevrolet Volts through Lyft, and the Bolt EV is an easy next step.
We don’t know when a true driverless Bolt EV will arrive, but judging by the climate, it’s coming sooner rather than later.
Comments
WTF prototype ? this not prodyction jet ?
Self-driving version is prototype, regular human-driven Volt is expected to begin its sales by the end if this year.
GM is spending so much money on the maybe fads (non-uber ride sharing) and autonomous driving technologies that may be better done on partnership with another car maker like Ford or purchased from technology firms such as Apple or Google that are approaching autonomous driving from a deep pocket and well-focused approach. Doubtlessly, GM can not do everything alone nor should it try.
GM could have used this cash to purchasea top quality automaker like Mazda. Toyota sees the value in such a partnership and the lessons each company can teach the other.
Imagine Mazda underpinning future GM small cars or doing the styling for Cadillac? Subaru could bring great AWD technology to Buick. Partnering with JLR would be a fantastic cost saver for Cadillac and co-development with Tata could help GM gain a foot hold in India.
GM is a car maker, & not the next Apple. Just like GM buys brakes from Brambo or stereos from Boise it should be buyingcself driving sensors from an outside vendor.
It’s not “sensors”, but mostly the complex and sophisticated software which uses these sensors and all the other available information as well, thus enabling autonomous driving. So, with self driving, it’s much more complex than with brakes or stereos. Not a valid comparison.
subaru AwD not good at all. buick awd is verry good and better even better than quattro. but gm can do better