Charged Fleet Logo

GM’s Ultra Cruise Takes on Tesla’s Autopilot

General Motors is updating its semi-autonomous driving system to function not only on highways but also on city streets.

by Staff
May 20, 2020
GM’s Ultra Cruise Takes on Tesla’s Autopilot

GM's Enhanced Super Cruise will include automated lane changing. The next step in GM's autonomous technology, dubbed Ultra Cruise, will function on city streets. 

Photo courtesy of General Motors. 

2 min to read


General Motors’ Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system is evolving to function not only on highways but also on city streets, according to Doug Parks, GM executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain.

Parks made the remarks on Tuesday during Citi’s 2020 Car of the Future Symposium and was first reported by CNBC.

Ad Loading...

The new version, dubbed Ultra Cruise internally, would allow vehicles with the technology to change lanes and function on exit ramps. According to Parks, Ultra Cruise would function in neighborhoods, city streets, and subdivisions.

The technology is not considered Level 4 autonomous driving and would still require human intervention.

Tesla’s Autopilot is considered to be the leader in semi-autonomous driving, and some drivers with the latest version of the software are using the system on city streets.

Unlike Autopilot, Super Cruise drivers don’t need to grip the steering wheel to keep the system operating. Super Cruise uses facial recognition technology to identify whether the driver is paying attention.

At present, Super Cruise only functions on some 200,000 miles of limited-access freeways in the U.S. and Canada that have been mapped with LiDAR technology to assist the onboard system of cameras, radars, and sensors.

Ad Loading...

No timeframe was mentioned for when the technology would be made available. However, “Enhanced” Super Cruise with automated lane change will be an option on the 2021 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans, as well as the 2021 Escalade when those vehicles become available in the second half of 2020.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Suppliers

Hyundai IONIQ 5 electric SUV parked near wind turbines, named Best Compact Electric SUV, highlighting fast charging, modern design, and efficiency.

Hyundai Sweeps EV and Hybrid Awards On U.S. News & World Report Best List

Hyundai earns three top spots in U.S. News’ 2026 hybrid and EV rankings, led by repeat wins for the Tucson Hybrid and IONIQ 5 and a category win for the new IONIQ 9.

Read More →
PG&E PowerHouse demo home in San Ramon with wall-mounted EV chargers, batteries, and electric systems, showcasing all-electric home technologies and energy management solutions.
Chargingby News/Media ReleaseApril 23, 2026

All Electric Test House Could Ease Path To EV Usage

An experimental model home shows how residential charging could enable electric fleet operations by allowing drivers to take EVs home.

Read More →
Subaru electric SUV driving along a coastal highway at sunset, representing the 2027 Getaway with three-row seating and all-electric performance.
Suppliersby News/Media ReleaseApril 22, 2026

Subaru Unveils New Electric SUV, a Three-Row 2027 Subaru Getaway

Subaru introduces the all-electric 2027 Getaway, a three-row SUV with 420 hp, over 300 miles of range, and fast-charging capability, expanding its EV lineup.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Charts show March EV sales: 82,629 new units (up month over month, down year over year) and 42,924 used units (up sharply), with EV share at 5.9% new and 2.5% used.

High Gas Prices Spur EV Sales Rebound

EV sales showed strong month-over-month gains and surging used EV demand, while tighter inventory and declining prices narrowed the gap with gas-powered vehicles.

Read More →
Electric vehicle charging in a home garage with wall-mounted charging and energy systems, illustrating WEX EV At-Home fraud protection and fleet charging verification technology.
Chargingby News/Media ReleaseApril 21, 2026

WEX Launches Solution to Close EV At-Home Charging Visibility Gap

At NAFA I&E 2026, WEX debuted an EV solution that adds a layer of verification to help fleets track, validate, and trust every at-home charging dollar.

Read More →
Lucid electric vehicle equipped with rooftop sensors parked outside a modern building, representing expanded partnership with Uber for future robotaxi deployment.

Lucid Receives New Investments As It Expands Uber Robotaxi Venture

Lucid and Uber partner to provide at least 35,000 vehicles, backed by new investments totaling $750 million to support the deployment of autonomous fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Orange Slate electric pickup truck parked outdoors between industrial structures, representing the company’s upcoming customizable EV supported by new funding.
Suppliersby News/Media ReleaseApril 17, 2026

Slate Auto Raises $650 Million In Funds As It Prepares E-Truck Production

Slate Auto will use the money to advance production plans, with more than 160,000 reservations and deliveries targeted for late 2026.

Read More →
Aerial view of large EV truck charging hub in San Bernardino with multiple charging lanes and infrastructure for fleet vehicles.
Chargingby News/Media ReleaseApril 15, 2026

Major Truck Charging Hub Opens In Southern California

EV Realty opens a 76-port, 9 MW truck charging hub in San Bernardino, designed to support more than 200 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles per day with CCS and MCS capability.

Read More →
Lucid Gravity electric SUV parked on a desert road with mountains in the background, showcasing updated 2027 model with revised trims and added standard features.

Lucid Reveals 2027 Gravity Lineup

The all-electric SUV gets more standard driver-assist features, new package options, and revised trim configurations for the Touring and Grand Touring models.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Teaser image of 2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid e-POWER, a dark SUV with LED lighting, representing Nissan’s new series hybrid with dual-motor AWD and no plug-in charging.
Suppliersby News/Media ReleaseApril 9, 2026

2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid e‑POWER's Technology Explained

Nissan's hybrid powertrain with dual-motor all-wheel drive adds refinement and updated driving characteristics in the Rogue.

Read More →