General Motors is not ruling out a future Cadillac without a steering wheel, but it is making a clear commitment to driving enthusiasts: anyone who wants to drive a Cadillac V Blackwing will still have that opportunity. The company’s position comes as it prepares to introduce more advanced autonomous driving technology while leaving room for different approaches to the driving experience.

Could Future Cadillacs Lose Their Steering Wheels?

Jaclyn McQuaid, GM’s senior vice president of vehicle products, said she could not rule out a Cadillac without a steering wheel in the future.

“I can’t say that there won’t be Cadillacs where that one day happens,” McQuaid said.

The possibility echoes GM’s 2024 Opulent Velocity concept, which featured a steering yoke that retracts when the vehicle enters fully autonomous mode.

For now, however, GM’s plans do not indicate that steering wheels are about to disappear from its vehicles. The company’s eyes-off driving system is scheduled to debut in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ before expanding to full-size light-duty trucks.

A later feature called “Mission Mode” is intended to let vehicles run errands for their owners. The eyes-off system represents a step beyond GM’s current hands-free Super Cruise technology, but McQuaid’s comments do not establish that future Cadillacs will eliminate steering wheels.

GM Says Cadillac V Blackwing Models Will Remain Drivable

For performance-car enthusiasts, McQuaid offered a more direct commitment. She said that anyone who wants to drive a V Blackwing will be able to do so.

“If somebody wants [to drive a] V Blackwing, they’re going to be able to drive a Blackwing,” she said, adding that the approach “doesn’t have to be a one-size-fits-all answer.”

McQuaid also pointed to GM’s racing programs in Formula One and NASCAR and described herself as “a lover of driving.” Her comments suggest that the company recognizes the importance of preserving a driver-focused experience alongside its development of autonomous technology.

The next CT5-V is expected to offer a naturally aspirated V8 engine and a manual gearbox, according to reports. Those features would continue the Blackwing tradition of emphasizing driver involvement.

Why Wheel-Free Consumer Cars Face Regulatory Hurdles

Federal vehicle safety rules were written around the presence of a human driver, creating regulatory challenges for vehicles designed to operate without conventional driving controls.

In July, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted Zoox a two-year exemption for a wheel-free robotaxi, with the exemption limited to 2,500 vehicles in any 12-month period. The authorization is a commercial permit, not a pathway for selling wheel-free vehicles directly to consumers.

NHTSA proposed changes to driverless-vehicle rules on October 23. Those proposals must go through a public-comment process before moving forward, and one estimate puts the timeline for rules of this kind at six to 18 months.

GM’s Autonomy Plans and the Future of Driving

McQuaid also connected autonomous driving technology with helping older drivers maintain their independence. The comments place autonomy in the context of mobility and access, alongside GM’s plans to expand its eyes-off driving capabilities.

GM has not committed to removing steering wheels from all future Cadillacs, and its statements leave open the possibility of different vehicle designs and driving experiences. For now, the company’s clearest assurance to enthusiasts is that customers who want to drive a V Blackwing will still be able to do so.