GM Expected to Launch Own Autonomous Ride Service

Dec. 4, 2017
A GM executive has said that the company is hoping to launch autonomous vehicles for a ride-hailing service, likely by 2019.

Dec. 4, 2017—A General Motors executive said on Friday that the company is hoping to launch autonomous vehicles for a ride-hailing service similar to Uber and Lyft, The Washington Post reported.

Battery-powered Chevy Bolts are reportedly being developed by Cruise Automation and could appear on U.S. streets without a driver by 2019.

And, the vehicles are not expected to have human backup drivers. GM had previously invested $500 million in Lyft.

“We have been committed since we first started talking about our efforts and when we purchased a portion of Lyft to building self-driving cars that operate in a ride-sharing environment,” GM executive Ray Wert said. “We’re very happy with how the technology is progressing. …”

GM has yet to reveal where it plans to launch its autonomous ride-sharing fleets, though a company executive said that opportunities especially exist in America’s coastal areas.

The manufacturer is already testing autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Detroit.

Sponsored Recommendations

Best Body Shop and the 360-Degree-Concept

Spanesi ‘360-Degree-Concept’ Enables Kansas Body Shop to Complete High-Quality Repairs

ADAS Applications: What They Are & What They Do

Learn how ADAS utilizes sensors such as radar, sonar, lidar and cameras to perceive the world around the vehicle, and either provide critical information to the driver or take...

Banking on Bigger Profits with a Heavy-Duty Truck Paint Booth

The addition of a heavy-duty paint booth for oversized trucks & vehicles can open the door to new or expanded service opportunities.

Boosting Your Shop's Bottom Line with an Extended Height Paint Booths

Discover how the investment in an extended-height paint booth is a game-changer for most collision shops with this Free Guide.