General Motors is looking beyond its planned Level 3 driving technology toward a future in which vehicles can drive themselves without human intervention. While the automaker plans to introduce eyes-off Super Cruise in the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028, GM Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson says the company’s longer-term goal is a more advanced autonomous system that can operate safely on highways and eventually other roads.
The vision centers on Level 4 autonomous driving, which could allow future GM vehicles to handle entire journeys without a human driver. However, regulatory restrictions, safety requirements and questions about public trust remain important considerations as the company develops its plans.
GM Wants to Move Beyond Level 3 Driving
GM’s Super Cruise system can travel hundreds of interstate miles without requiring drivers to touch the steering wheel or pedals. However, it is classified as a Level 2 system, meaning drivers must continue watching the road and remain prepared to take control.
In 2028, the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ is expected to introduce an eyes-off version of Super Cruise with SAE Level 3 capability. The technology will allow drivers to take their eyes off the road under specific conditions, but its availability will be limited to selected highways and defined operating circumstances.
Anderson, however, has a different long-term ambition. He has described Level 3 as an awkward middle ground for the automotive industry and said GM intends to move directly toward more advanced autonomous driving.
“We will not pass through that valley. We’re going to jump straight to the other side with an autonomous system that operates safely on highways” and then on other roads, Anderson said this week at a media briefing in New York.
Can GM’s Level 4 Vehicles Drive Without a Human?
GM is confident that advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning will help make fully autonomous driving possible. Future vehicles equipped with the company’s planned Level 4 technology could potentially drive themselves, including taking children to school without a human driver behind the wheel.
That possibility raises questions about whether parents will trust driverless vehicles to transport their children. Even if the technology performs as intended during testing, its practical reach across the United States will depend partly on where autonomous vehicles are legally permitted to operate.
The United States has not established comprehensive federal regulations governing autonomous vehicles. Meanwhile, at least a dozen fatal accidents associated with Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems have been investigated.
State regulations also vary. Texas has become a hub for driverless commercial freight corridors, while 21 states have legalized Level 4 autonomous vehicles for commercial and personal use without requiring a safety driver.
Will GM Offer Level 4 Technology in All 50 States?
GM says regulations will influence the rollout of its autonomous driving technology, although they will not necessarily prevent the company from introducing it.
“Regulations are not a blanket barrier, but they will shape where and how this capability is offered,” the automaker said in an email response to questions about the regulatory environment and its plans for Level 3 and Level 4 systems.
For the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ, that means eyes-off Level 3 driving will be available only on selected highways and within specified operating conditions. The company has not announced whether its future Level 4 vehicles will be available in all 50 states.
GM also has not established a timeline for introducing Level 4 technology in its vehicles. Although Anderson wants the company to move beyond Level 3, the timing and availability of more advanced systems remain dependent on safety validation and regulatory requirements.
The automaker says availability “may vary by market based on safety validation and local requirements.”
GM Envisions Giving Drivers Their Time Back
GM CEO Mary Barra wants autonomous driving technology to become accessible to all the company’s customers, allowing them to use travel time for activities other than driving.
That could include checking email, watching a favorite show or spending time with family during a daily commute. Barra has described a future in which a father could rely on an autonomous vehicle to take his daughter to kindergarten while focusing on their time together rather than traffic.
“We’re with him every step of the way, and we’ll be there when that car actually drives itself through that morning routine. Instead of thinking about traffic, he can focus on spending time with his daughter,” she said.
For now, GM’s confirmed plans include Level 3 eyes-off driving in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ, while Level 4 technology remains a longer-term ambition without a set launch date. The availability of both technologies will depend on their operating limitations, safety validation and applicable regulations.
