General Motors (GM) and its CEO Mary Barra had ambitious plans to surpass Tesla in EV production and autonomous driving technology. However, as the year 2023 came to a close, it became evident that GM’s efforts were falling short. The company may have ranked third in EV sales in the US, but after discontinuing its only EV that sold in significant numbers, the Chevy Bolt, GM hit a roadblock.
One major contributing factor to GM’s struggle was lackluster software. The company aimed to lead in this area by going all-in with Android Automotive and scrapping support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, this move backfired as the Chevrolet Blazer EV faced software issues, leading to a pause in production while GM tries to rectify the situation. This echoes Volkswagen’s experience with the ID.3 in 2020 when its software-defined vehicle push encountered similar problems.
Furthermore, GM’s autonomous driving ambitions took a hit when a Cruise robotaxi was involved in a serious accident in October. Cruise initially attempted to mislead investigators but eventually admitted to its mistakes and the presence of a flawed safety culture. With operations still halted, Cruise’s future looks uncertain, and GM may soon announce its demise.
This leaves GM at a crossroads in its autonomous driving efforts, particularly in relation to its Ultra Cruise system. GM had positioned Ultra Cruise as a hands-free driving system that could navigate most roads in the US and Canada. However, rumors are now circulating that GM plans to abandon Ultra Cruise and focus on improving its Super Cruise driver assistance system, which provides limited driver assistance similar to Tesla’s Autopilot.
While GM’s VP of Global Technology Communications, Darryll Harrison Jr., declined to comment on the fate of Ultra Cruise, anonymous sources familiar with the matter have revealed that GM intends to enhance Super Cruise’s functionalities to incorporate features initially reserved for Ultra Cruise.
In summary, GM’s ambitions to surpass Tesla in the EV market and autonomous driving technology have faced significant setbacks. The discontinuation of the Chevy Bolt, software issues with the Chevrolet Blazer EV, and troubles faced by Cruise have forced GM to reassess its strategies. As a result, the company is shifting its focus towards improving the Super Cruise driver assistance system, indicating a deviation from its original goals.
The source of the article is from the blog guambia.com.uy