General Motors has just announced a massive expansion of its Super Cruise hands-free driving capability. The next update to the system will triple the kilometres of highways covered in Canada and will allow the driver assistance feature to work on new types of roadways.
Canadian drivers with Super Cruise today can use the hands-off driver assistance feature on approximately 24,000 km of highway, GM says. The system, which requires drivers to watch the road and be prepared to take the wheel but not actually hold it, can steer, maintain a safe gap while following other vehicles, and even handle lane changes to pass a car or for a lane ending. But currently, the system only works on divided limited-access highways.
Starting with the new update, Super Cruise will be able to work on more routes including undivided highways. Ask any rural Canadian or anyone who has driven more than about 30 minutes from a major city, and the number of divided highways is greatly eclipsed by long stretches of two-lane, high-speed highways.
Before the update, shown in the above photo, Super Cruise couldn't work on massive stretches of the Trans Canada highway, including most of Northern Ontario, stretches in Alberta, and the entirety of the highway in Newfoundland. GM says large sections of that highway will be included with the new expansion.
In total, 80,000 km of Canadian roadways will be mapped and compatible with Super Cruise and its array of sensors. The update will include hundreds of thousands of kilometres of roadways in the U.S. as well, including the iconic Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, and Overseas Highway. Currently, more than 320,000 km of roadway is mapped in the two countries.
GM says customers have driven more than 54 million kilometres with Super Cruise engaged since the system launched in 2018.
