Photo: General Motors
General Motors is closing in on plans to launch a fully autonomous electric car. It will first be availably through the Lyft platform.
Without mentioning a specific timeline, a General Motors representative announced the company’s plans in the field of self-driving cars, electric vehicles, and ride-sharing.
Apparently, GM is going to release a car that is going to do all three at the same time, and company representatives say this is going to happen “sooner than you might expect.” According to the Wall Street Journal, testing might begin before the end of this year.”
While General Motors representatives did not disclose what brand will have the first fully-autonomous electric car, the executive chief engineer of autonomous technology at GM, Pam Fletcher, revealed that the automaker would take this step with Lyft, and any user of the service will have access to the vehicle.
The latest electric vehicle showcased by General Motors is the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, and it has a range that is sufficient enough to allow usage in the form of a vehicle used by Lyft. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt is expected to come to market later this year, and it marks a vital step in GM’s strategy in the field of fully electric cars.
As Pam Fletcher explained, the new Chevrolet Bolt EV has been designed with urban mobility in mind, and ride-sharing has also been considered when it was created. The electric model is seen as an adequate proposition for an autonomous car, as vehicles with this kind of propulsion system provide users with a seamless and smooth experience.
Interestingly, General Motors representatives have stated that the autonomous car that will be launched with Lyft and their Chevrolet Bolt EV are separate programs, even if the latter is being tested with self-driving technology from Cruise Automation. The latter is a company that was acquired by GM this year, and its representatives already admitted to using it as a test bed for self-driving technology.
Apparently, GM is going to release a car that is going to do all three at the same time, and company representatives say this is going to happen “sooner than you might expect.” According to the Wall Street Journal, testing might begin before the end of this year.”
While General Motors representatives did not disclose what brand will have the first fully-autonomous electric car, the executive chief engineer of autonomous technology at GM, Pam Fletcher, revealed that the automaker would take this step with Lyft, and any user of the service will have access to the vehicle.
The latest electric vehicle showcased by General Motors is the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, and it has a range that is sufficient enough to allow usage in the form of a vehicle used by Lyft. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt is expected to come to market later this year, and it marks a vital step in GM’s strategy in the field of fully electric cars.
As Pam Fletcher explained, the new Chevrolet Bolt EV has been designed with urban mobility in mind, and ride-sharing has also been considered when it was created. The electric model is seen as an adequate proposition for an autonomous car, as vehicles with this kind of propulsion system provide users with a seamless and smooth experience.
Interestingly, General Motors representatives have stated that the autonomous car that will be launched with Lyft and their Chevrolet Bolt EV are separate programs, even if the latter is being tested with self-driving technology from Cruise Automation. The latter is a company that was acquired by GM this year, and its representatives already admitted to using it as a test bed for self-driving technology.
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