GM Plans Connected and Semi-Self-Driving Cars by 2016

CEO Mary Barra says General Motors Co. intends to introduce its first model equipped with vehicle-to-vehicle communication capability in the 2017 Cadillac CTS sedan due two years from now.

The car will be able to swap information with other V2V-equipped vehicles about road conditions and hazards. It also will be able to swap information with the infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion.

At about the same time, GM will debut its Super Cruise system, which enables low- and high-speed semi-automatic driving on the highway, according to Barra. The technology will launch in an unidentified new Cadillac model GM is developing.

Barra confirmed the two introductions on Sunday during opening ceremonies for this week's Intelligent Transportation Society's World Congress in Detroit.

Barra urged her audience of transportation experts to accelerate research and real-world tests to help commercialize connectivity, thus reducing crashes, saving fuel and improving transportation efficiency.