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WATCH: Hands-free driving is coming to GMC's pickups — even when towing

It's not self-driving, but it's about as close as you can get.

by Jordan Golson
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

This is me driving a prototype GMC Sierra pickup truck with Super Cruise. We’re on GM’s test track going 70 MPH, but my hands aren’t on the wheel.

To pull this off, the car matches its view of the world with a previous lidar-scan to determine its current location. Then it maintains speed and lane position without any input from the driver.

Super Cruise isn’t new, but there are two new features on 2022 Super Cruise-equipped GM cars:

- Support for hands-free towing, which is surprisingly difficult to pull off.

- Fully automatic lane changes, without any direct involvement from the driver at all.

The automatic lane changes are, by far, the coolest feature.

Here’s how it works:

When a car in front of you is below your set cruise speed, your Super Cruise car looks to see if the passing lane is open. If it is, the car changes lanes automatically, passes, and moves back to the right.

The car uses a camera aimed at the driver to make sure you’re paying attention. If you look away for too long, it turns off the system.

Super Cruise works on 200,000 miles of undivided highway in the U.S. and Canada.

It competes with Tesla Autopilot and Ford’s upcoming BlueCruise hands-free driving feature. Of course, Autopilot isn’t hands-free.

The new Super Cruise will be available on the following 2022 vehicles:

- GMC Hummer electric pickup

- GMC Sierra

- Chevrolet Silverado

- Cadillac Escalade and XT6 SUVs

- Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans

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