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GM Promised A Lot With Self-Driving Cars, Now It Plans to Fulfill Them

General Motors has set lofty goals and ambitions with its self-driving car program. With a lot of promises, it can’t afford to not deliver on them. But, the automaker is confident it will do just that.

The Detroit News reported on Wednesday on CEO Mary Barra‘s comments at the Automotive Press Association event this past week. There, she said some of the future technology promised isn’t just a decade away, but mere months.

“When I talk about exciting technology, it’s not just about what’s going to be here in two, three, four, five, 10 years — it’s what’s going to be here in two months and what we’ll be launching next year,” Barra said. “We’re working hard to demonstrate to people that we’re innovative, responsible — I think that’s very important — and I guess transformative.”

GM has rebounded as a major player in the budding self-driving car space after an era of controversy, bailouts and bankruptcy.  Thus far, it’s demonstrated its technological prowess better than Ford or Fiat-Chrysler through Cruise Automation and other self-driving car facets. It’s also one of the only automakers to offer a battery-electric vehicle at a relatively affordable price with the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV.

Barra alluded that the automaker’s promises of self-driving cars and mobility will absolutely come to fruition, but one analysts said the automaker has everything to lose if it doesn’t get it just right.

“If GM says ‘Here’s our fleet’ and it doesn’t work, that could be risky for them,” said Mike Ramsey, an automotive analyst for Gartner Inc. technology research company. “GM’s aggressiveness has been motivating others, but they run a risk of hurting themselves if they put technology out and it doesn’t work.”

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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