Sept. 8, 2014—General Motors will release its first vehicle equipped with “connected car” technology in 2016, as well as advanced automated driving technology that can allow for hands-free driving capabilities in vehicles.
According to a report from Reuters, GM CEO Mary Barra made the announcement on Sunday that the company will sell a 2017 model Cadillac CTS equipped with vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology, allowing it to communicate with similarly equipped vehicles to help improve road safety.
GM will also roll out its “Super Cruise” automated driving system in 2016 that allows for hands-free highway driving through automated lane-following, speed-control and braking technology. It will included in a not-yet-identified 2017 Cadillac model.
The announcement comes as the industry is abuzz in talk of connected cars. It was a key topic of the Technology & Telematics Expo at the 2014 NACE/CARS Expo & Conference in Detroit in early August.
There have also been reports that automated vehicle technology could become commonplace in newer vehicles, which could have repercussions in the repair industry.
