General Motors may be canceling Ultra Cruise, the automaker’s next-generation semi-autonomous driver assistance system. Ultra Cruise was announced in 2021 as the evolution of the GM Super Cruise system, expected to offer expanded capabilities compared to Super Cruise. GM has faced considerable headwinds in its autonomous vehicle technology programs since an incident last October.
According to a recent report from CNBC, which cites two anonymous sources familiar with the matter, GM is poised to end the Ultra Cruise program, with one source indicating that the automaker will refocus its attention on developing Super Cruise, rather than offer two different semi-autonomous driver assist systems. Ultra Cruise was originally slated for launch for the 2023 calendar year.
Although GM declined to comment on Ultra Cruise, the company’s vice president of global technology communications, Darryll Harrison Jr., did indicate that General Motors would continue “to expand access to and increase the capability of Super Cruise,” per CNBC.
“Our focus remains on safely deploying this technology across GM brands and more vehicle categories while expanding to even more roads,” Darryll Harrison Jr. said.
Ultra Cruise was announced in 2021 as the next evolution of the GM Super Cruise system, offering hands-free driving capabilities in 95 percent of driving scenarios on 2 million roads in the U.S. and Canada, with 3.4 million miles covered over time. By contrast, Super Cruise offers hands-free driving during extended highway driving across 400,000 miles of North American roads. Both Ultra Cruise and Super Cruise are considered Level 2 automated systems.
However, GM has faced considerable headwinds in the autonomous driving technology space as of late. The company’s autonomous vehicle division, Cruise, is now facing multiple investigations following an incident last October wherein a pedestrian was dragged under a fully autonomous Cruise test vehicle after she was struck by a human-driven vehicle and launched in front of the AV. The incident resulted in a wave of layoffs at Cruise, the departure of the company’s CEO, the grounding of its autonomous vehicle fleet, and revocation of Cruise’s autonomous technology testing permit.
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Comments
Two decades ago GM threw money at products like the G8 GXP, G8 ST, the kappa turbo roadsters, for better or worse the SSR, AWD Buick ‘performance’ sedans, etc. Now they wizz away money on AV and EV
Some of those were exciting products, but all of them losers financially. This GM should be all about maximizing value for shareholders. When they do something that’s not working they should move on, not just make something or keep making it because you want it. Only products that can produce enough volume and gross profit to make it profitable.
Your someone who is all about greed and money. You R&D what customers want not what’s gonna fail and bring more money ex EV’s. Learn to live without money. See how far you get.
What was the awd Buick performance sedan? They had the pretty slow Regal GS that was just a rebadged Opel, but what else?
Those vehicles could break even and it would still elevate the brand past the garbage they mostly are now. Not all money made is direct. People want a Hellcat charger, but still buy an RT because of it.
Anyone know what the take rate is for Super Cruise? I’ve been shopping for a new car and the additional cost to add this feature (package) is ridiculous. Over $8k in a Cadillac. I see no reason to use this 95% of my drive…heck I don’t even use old school cruise control much and that’s, for all intent and purposes, free.
My guess is that people aren’t willing to pay for Super Cruise in its current state, therefore GM is no longer seeing the upside to spending on further enhancements to make Ultra Cruise work.
Similar to how they are backing off EV production.
I have Super cruise standard on my 2023 Lyriq, and I use it, but when the 3 year trial is up I’ll probably let it go. Not perfect.
Throws up it’s hands when getting near complicated
Interstate multiple clover leafs, etc. but it is pretty good. Better than Tesla.
What kinda pissed me off is that there was a big conundrum about charging jacks, and SAE finally decided on J1772/CCS1 in the States, forever. It allowed both 400 and 800 volt charging so it presumably was future proof and would allow home charging up to 80 amperes per vehicle (16-19 kw).
Now all the US brands and most foreigners are dumping that carefully designed standard and giving everything to Tesla – a big step backwards in my book.
Teslas nowadays can only charge at 48 amperes at home so that hobbled people who have installed ,64 and 80 amp facilities., unless NACS (Tesla) can be enlarged.
I had to special order my CT5 without stupid cruise because all the dealers had it, and I didn’t want to pay for something that I’ll never use.
Same thing with a moon roof and rear seating A/C…
We have it on our three Bolts and it’s great!
Super Cruise that is. And we paid something like $2k. If it had been $8k, forget it!
Waste a time. What benefit does this provide the driver? You have to monitor the car’s operation when this POS technology is running. It’s not like you could rest your eyes or take a nap. Even if you didn’t need to monitor it, you would be real stupid to trust it as this technology has killed quite a few drivers. (i.e. Tesla). Who knows how many other software bugs are out there in this technology. An accident waiting to happen.
I agree with you… you got a lot of down votes, but no replies to your question. Why would you want (or trust) a system that you still have to maintain 90%+ control over, just so you can clap your hands to a Queen rock anthem? I struggle with any real application of this technology in a car that has your family inside.
Super Cruise is actually better than I am at lane keeping, especially in bad weather (not sure how it does that). It’s also less fatiguing on a long trip. Yes, you still pay attention but it’s not as draining. Just as cruise control frees your mind from maintaining a constant speed, Super Cruise relieves you of having to concentrate for hours on steering. It even frees up some brain cells for watching the other cars around you so you can look for trouble farther down the road or a few lanes away.
Cruise technology is not the same as Tesla’s. Many people have been killed using Tesla’s half assed attempt at autonomous driving. If you’re going down a road and for whatever reason the lane markers go missing tesla’s tech fails and goes into another lane, or off the road.
Cruise on the other hand, or at least how I understood the cruise robo taxi’s in SF to work was they drive based on a cumulative memory from all the other cruise vehicles that drove the exact same road and kinda mashed them together to drive it better than all that came before. Cameras and sensors are for the unexpected like a car cutting you off.
A ride in a cruise autonomous vehicle feels like a human is driving. They stop and sometimes creep up before the light turns green. They sometimes hit the raised pavement markers between lanes when not changing lanes.
Tesla’s autonomous feels robotic. Drives perfectly straight as long as the lanes are clearly marked and sometimes makes you question if the car is actually going to stop in time when sitting in stop and go traffic.
I’m not sure why he hasn’t been more vocal about how their tech is different than Tesla’s tech.
I also think they didn’t fight hard enough after the pedestrian incident bc if you think about it how long would it take a human driver to completely stop after a pedestrian was flung into their lane by another vehicle
GM should be the first automaker to sign a deal with Tesla and license their FSD Software.
It is inevitable that most automakers will be doing so in the future so be first. Stop spending money on software that you do not understand nor do you most likely have the proper software engineers to execute properly.
Use the money saved to once and for all figure out how to build and scale up your coveted EV’s.
Make smart decisions. Only way to survive long term when cars will most likely be not only BEV’s but also (unfortunately if we won’t be able to drive manually as a choice) be autonomous as well.
I get the sentiment but I would spin it differently. GM should definitely not use Tesla fsd; it’s proven to be deadly and Tesla has shown themselves to be reckless in the claims they make and the way they allow customers to be Guinea pigs.
GM should partner with Tesla to develop a joint product and here’s why. Tesla has customers willing to pay for autonomous features. Tesla understands that cost cannot be the 1st concern, rather you must invest enough in proper hardware to enable the software to perform. GM on the other hand has a much better grasp of the reliability and validation requirements that are unique to the automotive sector. They have plenty of engineers capable of developing something like an evolution of supercruise.
Tesla fsd has been flawed because they are approaching the problem like it was a video game or phone app. Supercruise has flopped because GM hasn’t been willing to admit or step up to the needs for modernized processing power in the car. They also haven’t done a good job having the feature consistently available for customers to buy or even try. Supercruise has been more vaporware than it has been an option you could actually get and when it has been available, it’s been buried inside expensive trims and had very limited/late availability. Many have heard of it, far fewer are Interested after they hear the cost, and then only a small number of those willing to pay can actually find one in the flesh.
GM would bring to the table a much better discipline in development while Tesla would be more likely to actually install the needed computing power the engineers are specifying. Tesla customers have shown a much greater interest in autonomy and Tesla is clearly better at handling the press when it comes to the inevitable accidents.
There have been 0 deaths on FSD. Autopilot and FSD are two different products. You are highly misinformed. I drive a 600 mile road trip biweekly on FSD without any incident. Most of you reading this have never experienced what you are readily dismissing because of some biases you hold, but FSD is truly amazing and at least 5 years ahead of anything GM will ever offer.
“Supercruise has flopped because GM hasn’t been willing to admit or step up to the needs for modernized processing power in the car”
GM is waiting for Qualcomm to start producing the 4nm Ride platform chip very soon. I DOUBT GM will not try to develop Ultra-Cruise. I think they are just waiting to have the chips in mass production to install it in a bunch of cars coming this year including the upgraded Escalade 2025 ICE and Escalade IQ to then later (maybe 1-2 years from now) release the first versions of UltraCruise. I assume GM knows it is a matter a life or death for them if they DON’T develop their own “FSD”. What they did with Super Cruise works better than other similar software from the competition, so why would they stop there?
I tried to obtain some info from Qualcomm after/during CES a few days ago but I couldn’t find a date for the mass production of the 4nm Ride chip that they announced at last year’s CES (Last year they said mass production was scheduled to start at the beginning of 2024, now they just said 2024 without specific date).
I think Tesla’s lates Hardware 4 chip is made using 7nm or maybe 10nm (I have not been able to find this info), so Qualcomm’s chip will have MORE processing power than Tesla HW4 I think, and will consume less power and require less cooling. Having that kind of hardware available will be the best moment to push for UltraCruise and I think they will at least try it, or better they are already developing it and testing it with the sample chips that Qualcomm is already producing.
I was one of the layoffs. This tech is nowhere even close to being ready for a nationwide rollout and nobody should be placing their lives in the hands of extremely flawed software.
Some examples of your claims, or you’re just a disgruntled former employee.
I’ll put my money on Ryan on this one. Ex, you’re probably out of your league here, but in your world, if GM dreamed it up, it’s awesome…no matter what.
I’ve used super Cruise for about 5k-8k miles since July and would highly recommend it. Takes a lot of the work out of long distance driving.
So what are drivers doing instead of driving with super cruise – playing air guitar? Whats the point? You are still sitting in a driver seat with a wheel in front of you – might as well drive…
Eat a bagel, sip a coffee, and maybe relax? I did an 8 hour drive using super cruise and got out feeling like it took 2 hours. Looking at the road is a lot less taxing than making the typical minor adjustments needed.
It’s just a lot less taxing on the driver overall. For one thing you don’t have to keep your hands on the wheel at all times which is nice. You can also more freely interact with those around you. You also don’t have to stay 100% focused on the road the entire time. You can actually look around and distract yourself slightly which really breaks up the monotony of typical highway driving. I know my drive time behind the wheel has pretty much doubled using supercruise before I get tired.
I had it in a CT6 and used it extensively despite a lack of trust. I saw it as a counterweight to the extreme level of distractions created by all the other electronic “features” in the car. Because the infotainment and controls so frequently took your focus off the road, it was good to have supercruise helping maintain lane and following distance. I certainly didn’t see the system as a virtual chauffeur but rather an almost necessary helper to offset the dangers the vehicle interface was creating. It was also reassuring to have it working when I was feeling fatigued, knowing it was monitoring my alertness.
Loved that car but recognized that I am a far better driver in a less distracting car. Similarly, I found the experience for passengers is much smoother when I drive compared to the somewhat lurching and swerving way that adaptive cruise and supercruise behave.
I have Supercruise on 2 vehicles. 2023 Cadillac Lyriq and a 2022 Bolt EUV. One has auto lane change, the other doesn’t. Didn’t think I would like it. 3rd time I used it, I loved it. As stated earlier, it does allow more interaction and seems to help lessen driver fatigue. I have used it for about 4k miles, a mix of long (8 hour) and short (less than 2 hours) drives.
I love the fundamental concept of super cruise, but I hate the ongoing cost of it. Like with my onboard gps maps, if I don’t want the updates, don’t make me pay for them.
I am counting on a future self driving tech to keep me mobile when I get older, so get to developing it. Mercedes is about to take the lead.
You realize Tesla uses a totally different approach to “self driving”, it’s all camera based… No Lidar, radar, or even ultrasonic sensors. Tesla have the worst development of self driving. Elon/Tesla took out all the sensors which is genius for saving tremendous costs and boosting profit but not for safety. Even parking is problematic without depth sensing ultrasonic sensors. Heavy rain, fog or snow with cameras? Even just heavy film of dust covering the camera and it’s driving blind.
GM’s super cruise is always rated higher by independent and consumers. It uses a camera with infrared capabilities to monitor drivers eyes including at night and through dark sunglasses. It has radar and ultrasonic sensors. Lidar mapped roads. Volvo which touts itself as the safest uses the same sensors along with Lidar built into the front of the vehicle (EX30).
Elon is scamming the public by taking deposits for FSD which can’t possibly ever work with the sensors he has on the vehicle. He removed the Lidar sensors from his car, claiming that they are not necessary. He was right, they were not necessary for scamming the public with phony FSD promises. They were only necessary for FSD to work someday.
Same with his battery mileage claims and many others. I don’t believe a word he says.
IMO, Super Cruise should be the only autonomous system that should be improving for each generation. Will it be Level III or beyond one day? It is possible as long GM commits with gradual updates.
Ultra Cruise may be on pause for as the name is concerned but it will be a shell of itself through Super Cruise as the technology already have name recognition and will grow in the future. So Ultra Cruise is not entirely cancelled for good but it will be repositioned through SuperCruise.
I’ve used the Tesla Autopilot system on multiple 500 miles drives. Here’s what most people don’t understand: automation removes 50 to 70% of the mental load from driving. Instead of tediously keeping the car in lane and maintaining consistent speed your job shifts to monitoring Autopilot.
I wouldn’t have appreciated this if I didn’t have actual time behind the wheel using it. I also use it wisely keeping a hand on the wheel and foot resting on the accelerator. Most Autopilot issues I see are due to the driver mentality checking out.
But GM is not an EV leader, they are going this route kicking and screaming and it shows up in so many areas.
Automated driving has nothing to do with EVs. SuperCruse is on ICE vehicles as well.
I agree, my EV comment is really a separate point. Given the more responsive dynamics of EV drivetrains I think automation will deploy there better than ICE.
All these comments of folks that haven’t used super cruise before it’s nuts! It’s like if we were in the early 1900’s when Ford was trying to sell a car: “I don’t know about that Ford guy and his movement device.. I am find and dandy with my Two horses, I can’t see myself using it!”
When the real answer should be “I don’t know, maybe I should ask someone who has tried it on a daily basis to see the negative vs the positives”.
For me, I do love my Super Cruise on my EV and I will keep buying a chevy or cadillac that has it installed!
Main reason is highway driving and adaptive cruise control (which in my opinion, all cars should have this option):
1. Imagine driving 7 hours straight with one of your buddies or family; With supercruise is on, for most of the trip, you literally get less “Tired” from driving the long hours, almost seemed as if you were sitting down having a peachy conversation with your family and buddies.
2. When going to and from work. Many folks living in larger cities have this “Traffic Problem” on their daily commute. Super Cruise is legit on this, just turn on and stop and go moments are done automatically and very efficiently.
3. And last, and definitely not least: what I really like about supercruise is that it’s safer than other autonomous level 2 assistant out there.. There is no little weigh you can put on the staring wheel faking the car that you are holding it… The Supercruise is looking at your eyes 100% of the time, that you arent looking elsewhere for a prolonged period of time.. This is good, and I think they should always have this version available.
If our Cruise division can’t automate driving without remote backup drivers that stealthily take over every 3 minutes because of inherent design constraints, how do you think our Super Cruise product is going to pan out? We are desperate to stay relevant in the face of Tesla. Pray for us. After a 400-mile road trip in a Tesla Model S and 3 on their unfinished FSD ADAS product with literally 0 need to take over the entire way, I believe we will be purchasing licencing for Tesla’s product, when/if they offer it. In the meantime we will “continue development” for SuperCruise.
GM needs to get back to building motor vehicles with non Chinese Electronics. I hate my 24 Silverado with the engine kill at stoplights. All that will do is kill starter motors in half the time. My 2011 was far superior to this 24 and got better economy.
I don’t need a couch with a touchscreen, I want a vehicle I can service when it needs to be serviced. Been a GM guy my entire life but it’s time to do some homework. Too many politricksters involved in what I wish to purchase.
I specifically went with a Wt on my Silverado to avoid all the unnecessary tech, no onstar, no tracking my movements, and no selling it to carfax, google, or the government
How about a $2000 Discount on models with NO AV of any kind.
You could call it the, “For People Who Actually Have A Set and Want to Drive Instead of Texting Their Co-dependant Loser Friends” Option.
I come from the generation that when we turned 16 we were at the DMV that morning on our birthday because we wanted to drive. The experience of controlling your own vehicle it’s Destiny and it’s maintenance and it’s good times and bad were the whole reason to even own a car. Less than 5% of the population want electric cars and I believe it’s less than that that want a self-driving car. I can’t even maintain a Sirius radio signal and you want to control millions of bits of information to keep my car on the road? This winter storm attacking the country you really think self-driving sensors are going to operate and this kind of ice snow slush and chemicals on the road? So when you’re driving a car why don’t you want to pay attention to where it’s going? what have you got going on that’s so important that you don’t have to pay attention to driving? This is the dumbest thing we’ve come up with. And it goes back to what I keep saying is that there are no car people running car companies. When GM has to buy back half of their Buick dealerships cuz they don’t want to sell electric cars wouldn’t that not be a red flag that they know something that GM doesn’t?
I had a 150 mile drive to deliver a Suburban and saw this gadget so I gave it a try. First highway was a fairly straight four lane- it wouldn’t engage. An hour later on an old two lane it did engage to my surprise. I felt like I was in a game of Pong. Running 65 and approaching an odd intersection I expected this robot to slow down or disengage. Going north you steer right, left, right, no problem. Going south you stay straight. The Suburban maintained 65 and started swerving instead of hitting the apex. End of experiment.
GM is going to get very close to bankruptcy again. They have too much debt and I for one don’t want to bail them out again. Maybe they’ll merge and become Grellantis.
You have to hand it to Musk:
He is one great Used Car salesman.