GM Hits 1 Billion Hands-Free Miles, Will Drop Google Gemini Into 4 Million Cars

• General Motors’ Super Cruise driver assistance system has logged 1 billion hands-free miles.
• The company has nearly 750,000 Super Cruise-enabled cars in North America.
• Separately, GM is dropping Google’s Gemini AI voice assistant into 4 million cars via over-the-air software updates.

General Motors has ticked off a big milestone for its Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system. The American car giant says its 750,000-strong fleet of Super Cruise-enabled cars has driven a combined 1 billion hands-free miles. Furthermore, roughly four million cars with a Google-based infotainment system will soon get the Gemini AI voice assistant via over-the-air software updates.

This is a big deal for the company, as it looks to boost its autonomous driving efforts in the coming years, including launching an eyes-off version of Super Cruise, which will launch on the Escalade IQ electric SUV in 2028.

Cadillac Escalade IQ with eyes-off Super Cruise

Photo by: Cadillac

The company has recorded growth on all fronts. GM said it expects the number of Super Cruise subscriptions to exceed 850,000 users by the end of the year, with up to 40% of owners choosing to renew their subscription when it expires. What’s more, over the past year, the number of Super Cruise-capable vehicles grew by about 70%, while daily Super Cruise users grew roughly 80%.

It’s worth noting that GM doesn’t have 750,000 paying subscribers—the company offers a three-year free trial for the service with models including the new Chevrolet Bolt EV and Silverado EV. That said, 40% out of 750,000 means 300,000 people choose to pay for Super Cruise out of pocket when the trial ends.

By comparison, Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system has logged nearly 10 billion miles, according to the Elon Musk-led company. Both systems are still considered  Level 2-capable by the Society of Automotive Engineers, which means the driver is still responsible for the vehicle’s actions, and they must take control of the car when needed. 

However, there are fundamental differences between Super Cruise and FSD (Supervised). GM’s system, which costs $24/month after the trial ends, relies on pre-mapped data that enables highway-only functionality on over 750,000 miles of compatible roads. Meanwhile, Tesla’s system is based on a vision-only approach that doesn’t require pre-mapped data and is advertised to work on any type of road. It costs $99/month.

As GM’s fleet of hands-free-capable vehicles grows, the company is adding a useful feature that can make long journeys a little more enjoyable. Later this year, roughly four million cars that have a Google-based infotainment system will get an over-the-air software update that adds the software giant’s Gemini AI voice assistant. The update will apply to models that date back to 2022, including cars that don’t have Super Cruise capabilities. With Google’s Gemini, drivers and passengers will be able to ask natural questions and get relevant answers

GM isn’t the first automaker to integrate Gemini in passenger vehicles—Volvo takes that title—but it is the company behind one of the largest deployments in the industry.