General Motors says drivers will be able to look away from the road while driving a Cadillac in 2028, marking a major step for the automaker’s autonomous driving technology. But key questions remain unanswered, including how much the system will cost, which vehicles will offer it, and exactly when drivers will be able to use it. GM has provided some updates on the technology, while important details remain unclear ahead of its planned debut.
What We Know About GM’s Eyes-Off Driving Technology
GM CEO Mary Barra has indicated that the company’s eyes-off, hands-off driving system remains on track, according to TIKR’s summary of an interview. Barra said a recent test ride demonstrated clear improvement compared with her previous drive in March.
GM has identified the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ as the first vehicle to receive the technology, with additional models expected to follow. However, the company has not named the other vehicles that could eventually offer the system.
When GM unveiled the technology in October 2025, reports said it would combine lidar, radar and cameras. The system was also expected to begin operating on highways, including roads that GM has not mapped.
The technology builds on work conducted by Cruise, GM’s robotaxi operation, which the automaker suspended in December 2024 after spending more than $10 billion. Barra has emphasized that GM’s current focus is on personal vehicles rather than commercial robotaxis. As she put it, “We’re not in the taxi business.”
What GM Hasn’t Revealed About the System
Despite outlining its plans, GM has yet to answer several important questions about how its eyes-off driving technology will work in practice. Pricing, vehicle availability and the conditions under which drivers can look away from the road remain unclear.
How Much Will GM’s Eyes-Off Driving Feature Cost?
GM has not announced a price for the technology or clarified whether it will be included as standard equipment, offered as an optional feature or sold through a subscription.
TIKR, citing GM’s July earnings call, reports that Super Cruise subscriptions already convert 30 to 40 percent of customers after the trial period. That figure is secondhand, but it offers a potential indication of GM’s approach to generating revenue from software features.
The available information suggests that subscriptions are becoming a more significant part of GM’s business strategy, although the company has not disclosed how it plans to charge customers for the upcoming eyes-off system.
Which Cadillac Models Will Get Eyes-Off Driving?
The Cadillac Escalade IQ is the only vehicle GM has confirmed for the initial launch. The company’s description of the rollout as “starting with” the Escalade IQ leaves open the possibility of broader availability, but no additional models have been announced.
For now, drivers interested in the technology have no confirmed list of other compatible vehicles to consider.
What Are the Conditions for Looking Away From the Road?
GM says drivers will be permitted to look away from the road under certain “compatible conditions,” but the company has not explained what those conditions involve.
Reports indicate that drivers will primarily need to take control again when approaching highway off-ramps. However, the precise circumstances requiring a human driver to intervene have not been fully detailed.
How GM’s New Technology Differs From Super Cruise
GM already offers Super Cruise, a driver-assistance system that allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel while they continue watching the road. The planned eyes-off system represents a significant change because it is intended to let drivers look away under compatible conditions.
Allowing drivers to take their eyes off the road introduces additional legal and safety considerations. GM has not explained how the new system will address drivers who fail to pay attention or how it will handle situations in which human intervention becomes necessary.
The company has also not clarified the legal framework that will govern the technology. The available information leaves open whether the rules needed to support eyes-off driving will be ready when the system launches.
What to Expect From GM’s Planned 2028 Launch
GM continues to position its eyes-off, hands-off driving system for a 2028 debut, with the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ set to lead the rollout. The company has reported progress in testing, but it has not yet provided details on pricing, additional vehicle availability or the specific conditions under which the technology will operate.
Until GM addresses those questions, the scope of the system’s capabilities and the terms under which customers will be able to use it remain uncertain.
