LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — General Motors’s Cruise robotaxi dreams may have stalled, but the automaker isn’t ready to wave the white flag just yet. Instead, GM is testing a handful of Bolt EVs equipped with Cruise tech on select highways in Michigan, Texas, and San Francisco, all with safety drivers behind the wheel.
GM confirmed on July 7 that testing began in Michigan and Texas in February, with San Francisco joining in mid-April. These modified Bolts combine Cruise’s hardware and software legacy with GM’s Super Cruise system. Nonetheless, they are far from fully autonomous, operating at Level 3 autonomy: drivers can look away but must be ready to take control at a moment’s notice.
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Cruise was once GM’s $10 billion bet to pioneer robotaxis but was shuttered commercially last year after mounting losses, according to the Detroit Free Press. GM has since folded Cruise’s team into its broader efforts, focusing on hands-free driving features for personal vehicles. Super Cruise, launched in 2017, allows hands-free steering and adaptive cruise control but requires drivers to remain attentive.
The current tests gather data to refine these systems and pave the way for wider deployment. GM also expanded partnerships with Nvidia and other automakers to develop scalable autonomous driving platforms.
After a costly detour, GM is betting the future of autonomy will be hands-free—but not quite hands-off.