In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are GM Super Cruise, the Teamsters and Brigade Electronics.
GM Super Cruise 750,000 Miles Driven
Being a leader in hands-free driving can’t happen by standing still, and winning over more happy customers means expanding access to technology through both features — like available trailering1 — and drivable roads. GM has made extraordinary progress on that commitment and is adding an additional group of highways to its flagship hands-free technology Super Cruise, bringing the total to about 750,000 miles (1.2 million kilometers) of compatible roads across the U.S. and Canada. Safely deploying and expanding access to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), like Super Cruise2, is an important step in gaining consumer trust and excitement around the future of transportation.
For perspective, 750,000 miles is like traveling one way from Earth to the Moon three times or taking a coast-to-coast road trip from New York City to San Francisco and back nearly 130 times. This new batch of compatible roads makes Super Cruise the largest truly hands-free operating domain in North America — nearly six times the coverage of other hands-free driver assistance technologies on the market today.
“GM is all-in on safely deploying Super Cruise as we make the technology available on more vehicles, more roads and for more people to enjoy. A key part of that is expanding the road network — in this case nearly doubling it again — with LiDAR mapped highways. High precision LiDAR mapping gives us an operating domain where we are confident in Super Cruise’s abilities.”– Anantha Kancherla, GM vice president of ADAS.
Super Cruise launched in 2017 as the industry’s first true hands-free ADAS on the market. GM has incrementally expanded its Super Cruise network, most recently to 400,000 miles (640,000 kilometers), to include major Canadian, U.S. and state highways. Today’s expansion adds minor highways that typically connect smaller cities and townships.
What exactly does that mean? Soon drivers will be able to drive hands-free between more rural towns across the country — connecting families and destinations alike. Adding minor highways to the network gives Super Cruise customers more variety and better coverage of hands-free driving, regardless of where they live, work or vacation. We expect this to excite Super Cruise customers, particularly those with compatible trailers who camp, boat, and use recreational vehicles. And adding Super Cruise with trailering to models like the 2024 Chevrolet Traverse or 2024 GMC Acadia will put Super Cruise in the hands (or should we say not in the hands…) of more customers with these passions — helping more GM drivers get to and from their destination more relaxed than ever before.
Super Cruise fast facts
- Growing to about 750,000 miles of compatible roads across the U.S. and Canada, including divided highways, major and minor highways.
- Over 80% of surveyed owners with Super Cruise have said it makes driving more relaxing, and it’s the second most important reason for choosing a vehicle.
- The industry’s first — and largest — truly hands-free ADAS on the market, and the only to offer trailering capability.
- More than 160 million miles (257 million kilometers) have been driven accident-free with Super Cruise.
- New or enhanced features and capabilities since Super Cruise’s launch include:
- Lane Change on Demand3
- Automatic Lane Change4
- Enhanced Navigation
- Industry-First, and only, Hands-Free Trailering
- Collaborative Steering
- Enhanced Driver Requested Offset
- Improved Curve Handling
The new roads have already started to be added incrementally over-the-air, at no additional charge, and will continue to be added through 2025. Most Super Cruise-equipped vehicles will receive this expansion except for the Cadillac CT6, Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Cadillac XT6. The average eligible vehicle will update its map within about one month of the GM brand site maps showing updated roads.
1,3,4Automatic Lane Change and Lane Change on Demand are not available while trailering.
2Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Do not use a hand-held device. Requires active Super Cruise plan or trial. Terms apply.
Teamsters Visit CA Statehouse For Legislating Human Drivers in Self-Driving Trucks over 10,000 lbs.
Teamsters, California lawmakers, and labor allies gathered at the statehouse in Sacramento to announce the reintroduction of legislation requiring a trained human operator behind the wheel of self-driving trucks weighing more than 10,000 lbs. Assembly Bill 2286 (AB 2286), formerly Assembly Bill 316 (AB 316), is part of the CARS package that the Teamsters are advocating for in Sacramento, alongside Senate Bill 915. Full video of the event can be found here.
“As autonomous vehicle companies try to push their new, untested technology onto our roads, we need to prioritize legislation that will protect our streets and good-paying driving jobs, and that starts with AB 2286,” said Peter Finn, Teamsters International Western Region Vice President, President of Teamsters Joint Council 7. “We’ve seen the destruction that small robotaxis can cause, injuring pedestrians and preventing first responders from doing their job. We cannot allow driverless vehicles weighing ten times that of a robotaxi onto our roads without a human operator. That’s why the Teamsters are calling on California policymakers to pass AB 2286.”
The AV human operator bill was first introduced by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D – Winters) in January 2023 and received overwhelming bipartisan support in the legislature, with more than 90 percent of California lawmakers voting in favor of the legislation. According to a 2023 poll, nearly three-quarters of California voters across party lines, gender, geography, and all other demographics also said they support having a human operator behind the wheel of autonomous trucks.
“I’ve reintroduced this bill because the Legislature’s role is critical in deciding when autonomous trucking is safe and when there is a REAL plan for our trucking workers,” said Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters). “The autonomous trucking industry has cast this bill as a ban on technology when it explicitly states that testing and deployment will happen with a Human Safety Operator. Using their logic, they’re the ones who support a ban. A ban on humans in trucks. A ban on working people’s ability to provide for their families and provide safe roadways for Californians. We will not stand by and let them put profits over people.”
“All eyes are watching to see if California will take the first step towards passing common sense autonomous vehicle regulation. AB 2286 is not a ban on self-driving technology – it is a bipartisan bill that puts safety first by ensuring a trained human operator behind the wheel of autonomous trucks,” said Chris Griswold, Teamsters International Vice President At-Large, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42. “If we learned anything last year, it was that autonomous vehicles are not ready for prime time. We cannot keep making the same mistake and allowing Big Tech to run the show at the expense of public safety. California needs to pass AB 2286.”
Since Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 316 in September 2023, robotaxis have wreaked havoc on California streets, with one Cruise robotaxi running over a pedestrian and dragging her 20 feet in San Francisco. In the wake of this safety incident, the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Cruise, while San Francisco has brought a lawsuit against the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for allowing for the expansion of robotaxis in the city. Last week, an additional investigation was opened into Cruise after reports that the vehicles nearly collided with children in two separate incidents, and a Waymo robotaxi crashed into a cyclist in San Francisco.
In addition to Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry, Teamsters were joined by Assemblymembers Tom Lackey (R – Boron) and Laura Friedman (D – Glendale).
“Artificial Intelligence needs to be developed and implemented in a way that benefits everyone – not just wealthy shareholders who only care about the bottom line. So, I urge all California elected officials to please listen to professional drivers like me who operate this machinery every day,” said Julia Sandoval, a Recology driver and member of Teamsters Local 350. “We know big trucks and we know California roads. Please, protect public safety and middle-class prosperity in California by supporting AB 2286.”
The Teamsters are committed to protecting good-paying union jobs, keeping dangerous autonomous vehicles off our streets, and ensuring local communities have a say in AV deployment and regulation. Earlier this month, the Teamsters held a rally to announce the introduction of SB 915, a bill that would give California’s local municipalities more authority over such regulations. The growing statewide support for AV safety measures comes as Waymo seeks to expand its robotaxi operations in California.
Radar Predict from Brigade
Brigade Electronics has launched Radar Predict – its latest innovative side Blind Spot Information System (BSIS) collision prediction safety technology specifically designed to protect cyclists from incidents with HGVs.
Even before its launch, this product was already receiving positive feedback during customer trials and has earned expert recognition, being honored as the ‘Most Innovative Product of the Year’ at the Motor Transport Awards in London, United Kingdom.
Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), Radar Predict alerts the driver about potential collisions by analyzing data such as the speed and direction of the vehicle, and cyclists nearby. The system uses its specially designed algorithm to alert drivers when an impact with a cyclist is likely.
Incidents involving large vehicles, such as HGVs, are far more likely to prove fatal than those involving a car. Many of the collisions between cyclists and HGVs occur because the driver has limited ‘direct vision’ from their cab (the ability to see what is outside the vehicle without using indirect aids, such as mirrors or cameras).
Radar Predict supports HGV driver visibility via a single dual-radar unit, which is fitted to the nearside of the vehicle to provide complete side coverage, including the trailer unit. A trailer discovery mode will detect whether the vehicle is fitted with a trailer and prevents the articulation from causing false alerts. The driver is alerted only if a cyclist enters the detection zone and poses a potential collision risk. The system issues differentiated visual and audible alerts based on the time to collision, providing an initial notification upon detection and escalating to a more urgent warning if it predicts an imminent collision.
Radar Predict’s key features include:
- 180-degree cyclist side detection active at speeds below 20mph
- A detection area of 4.5m x up to 46m
- Available for left-hand and right-hand applications
- Compatible with rigid and articulated vehicles
- Reduces false alerts: only issues alerts when the collision is likely
- Quick and easy to install (no CAN connection to the vehicle required)
- Meets UNECE Regulation 151 requirements
- Three-year warranty
Corey Heniser, Managing Director at Brigade Electronics in the USA, said, “Radar Predict has been specifically developed to address the issues caused by blind spots for HGV drivers when maneuvering in close proximity to cyclists. The system ensures full coverage down the nearside of the vehicle, including the trailer, and greatly reduces false alerts for drivers as it will only activate when a collision is likely. Additionally, Radar Predict will automatically activate when the vehicle is turning, so no indicator selection is required by the driver.”