General Motors is expanding the reach of its Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance system. Once complete, Super Cruise will cover “about 750,000 miles of compatible roads across the U.S. and Canada,” the company says.
Super Cruise is a hands-free driver assistance system that works on pre-mapped roads. It allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel as long as they keep their attention on the road.
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Cameras inside the car monitor the driver and shut down Super Cruise if their attention drifts.
No true self-driving cars are for sale in the U.S., though some automakers advertise similar systems under misleading names that suggest they can drive themselves. Some, like Tesla’s Autopilot system, work without maps and rely purely on the car’s sensors to function. Others, like Super Cruise and Ford’s similar BlueCruise system, follow mapped routes to provide a layer of safety.
There have been few head-to-head comparison tests of the systems published. But, Consumer Reports studies have found that pre-mapped systems perform better.
For the first time, Super Cruise has expanded to cover minor highways, GM says. The version of Super Cruise available on GM trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado and SUVs like the GMC Acadia can tow a compatible trailer.
Super Cruise users should see the updated road network download automatically. GM explains, “The new roads have already started to be added incrementally over-the-air, at no additional charge, and will continue to be added through 2025. Most Super Cruise-equipped vehicles will receive this expansion except for the Cadillac CT6, Chevrolet Bolt EUV, and Cadillac XT6. The average eligible vehicle will update its map within about one month of the GM brand site maps showing updated roads.”
