Skip to main content

GM is creating a team to work on self-driving and electric cars

2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Stephen Edelstein/Digital Trends
Sure, GM may have just pushed the date back on its autonomous driving feature, but that’s not stopping the car manufacturer from dreaming bigger than ever. On Thursday, the Detroit-based company announced the creation of a team dedicated to developing self-driving and electric cars, perhaps even finding a way for these two technologies to intersect with one another.

At the helm of this new venture will be Doug Parks, who currently serves as the vice president for global product programs. According to reports, Parks’ responsibilities will include overlooking “efforts to develop new electrical and battery systems and software” for the cars of the future.

Later this year, GM is expected to release the Chevrolet Bolt, a next-generation electric vehicle that would be able to go 200 miles on a single charge. The price tag currently sits at just $35,000 — considerably less than a Tesla would cost you. Other electric vehicles on the market today are capable of going only half the range of the Bolt — at least, at that price point.

And as far as autonomous cars go, GM has certainly made a number of moves in the new year that reflect its dedication to the new technology. Earlier in January, the car maker invested half a billion dollars in Lyft, with the hopes of developing a fleet of driverless cars that could be hired on demand.

We’re just a month into 2016, but it’s shaping up to be one of the more innovative years to date for the 108-year-old company. And as the firm continues to explore new possibilities in the realms of both electric and autonomous vehicles, GM just might be setting the trend for the next 100 years. So no — you won’t see the Super Cruise feature as soon as expected. But once this team has been given a little time, maybe you’ll see something even better.

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Tesla Autopilot vs. full self-driving: What’s the difference?
A Telsa Model 3 drives along a road.

It's no longer the only company with self-driving cars on the road, but Tesla was one of the first brands to make this innovative functionality available to the public. Thanks to an array of cameras, sensors, and AI technology, most Telsa vehicles are capable of driving themselves to some degree. However, this doesn't mean drivers can take a nap behind the wheel. In fact, none can be used without driver supervision -- and there are some serious limitations to the tech.

Tesla currently offers features known as Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. But what's the difference between the two? And is one more reliable than the other? Here's everything you need to know about Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving technology.
Tesla Autopilot

Read more
Waymo robotaxi attacked and set on fire in San Francisco
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV

A Waymo self-driving car was set upon by vandals in San Francisco on Saturday evening.

According to footage and eyewitness reports of the incident, the attackers graffitied the car before smashing its windows and throwing fireworks inside. The vehicle then caught fire and burned before fire crews arrived to extinguish the blaze.

Read more
Mercedes’ electric eSprinter isn’t just greener, it’s better
Front three quarter view of a 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter electric van.

While best known for luxury cars, Mercedes-Benz is also a prolific maker of commercial vans. Since it first arrived in the U.S. in 2001, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has become a favorite of both delivery fleets and camping enthusiasts. And with Mercedes kicking its electrification plans into high gear, we’re finally getting an all-electric Sprinter van.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is an updated version of a model Mercedes was already selling in Europe but was considered unsuitable for the U.S. because of its limited driving range. The updated eSprinter addresses that with a bigger battery pack and features a reengineered electric motor and other components that allow it to be built more easily alongside conventional vans. That’s happening at Mercedes’ factory in North Charleston, South Carolina, which will begin supplying electric vans to customers in the U.S. later this year.

Read more