GM to Debut Connected and Semi-Self-Driving Cars in 2016

CEO Mary Barra says General Motors Co. plans to introduce its first vehicle-to-vehicle communication-capable vehicle when the 2017 Cadillac CTS sedan bows 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 capabilities on the highway, according to Barra. The technology will launch in a 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.

She also noted that GM is partnering with other carmakers, Michigan's Dept. of Transportation and the University of Michigan's Mobility Transformation Center to create 120 miles of vehicle-to-infrastructure-enabled sections of freeways in metro 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.