GM Claims It Will Start Manufacturing Autonomous Cars Next Year

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

General Motors has announced it will begin manufacturing autonomous vehicles by 2019. Since purchasing Cruise Automation in 2016, GM has invested heavily into self-driving cars. However, its Chevrolet Bolt-based Cruise AV has only served as a testbed for the technology. That will change next year when the Orion Township assembly plant in Michigan starts building examples for commercial use.

If so, that would make General Motors the first company to sell an autonomous vehicle. However, it’s not entirely clear if that’s the ultimate goal. Thus far, GM has only said the autos will enter into a “ride-sharing environment” where the vehicles can be managed in a fleet — perhaps something akin to Uber.

Obviously, the analogy is as accurate as it is unfortunate. Uber recently suspended autonomous testing after one of its vehicles fatally struck a pedestrian earlier this week. While GM’s product planning can hardly be faulted for the goings-on at another company, the collision could see the general public wonder if production Cruise AVs are ready to take over the road.

“We’re continuing to make great progress on our plans to commercialize in 2019,” said GM President Dan Ammann in a statement. “Our Orion and Brownstown teams have proven experience in building high-quality self-driving test vehicles and battery packs, so they are well-prepared to produce the Cruise AV.”

The company has already built over 200 test examples of the model and over $100 million will be invested into the plants to prepare them for autonomous assembly. General Motors hasn’t stated any production goals but noted it’s already building the rooftop modules that house sensor arrays essential for operations.

Brownstone will continue handling the sensor modules and battery assembly as Orion gets a dedicated production line for the autonomous cars. Assembly of the Chevrolet Bolt and Sonic will continue at the site, as well.

GM has showcased its Cruise AV without a steering wheel in the past, generating some light criticism for its underperformance in real world environments. The vehicle seemed to have difficulty navigating construction-laden areas. Still, most agree GM’s autonomous tech is among the best currently in existence — roughly on par with Waymo, which is the only company currently running self-driving vehicles with passengers and no driver.

GM previously petitioned the Department of Transportation for permission to operate cars with no human driver and no manual controls on public roads. For now, current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards specifically call for manual controls. General Motors says if it does not receive the special dispensations on controls, its vehicles will still meet existing standards.

Meanwhile, the AV Start Act, crafted to help push through these changes, is currently being held up by a handful of concerned senators. Their primary concerns involve data protection, privacy, establishing what defines an autonomous vehicle, and ensuring any mechanical exemptions made for self-driving cars does not jeopardize public safety. If the bill passes, automakers would be able to test them with fewer regulations and market them directly to customers before updated federal safety regulations can be established. It would also prohibit individual states from adopting their own rules on autonomous vehicles.

[Image: General Motors]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

More by Matt Posky

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 16 comments
  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Mar 20, 2018

    What a rich, untapped vein of law we're about to mine. I guess GM doesn't read the headlines.

  • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Mar 21, 2018

    So, looking at those sensors and living in the upper Midwest I wonder how they keep those sensors clear when driving during heavy snow or freezing rain? How long does the car have to warm up after sitting in the parking lot in said conditions to clear them enough to even start driving? Do they have electric heating elements in them? Does snow or ice accumulation have any effect on them? Sorry, I have always wondered about that.

    • See 1 previous
    • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Mar 21, 2018

      @Vulpine And the lidar? I assume they aren't powerful enough to melt frozen stuff quickly or they would blind people.

  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
Next