GM promises smarter cars, faster updates, and autonomous dry-cleaning runs
News Source
β’2026-10-21T14:00:00-04:00
π° What Happened
General Motors used its Onward event to promise big changes. It says AI will cut the time to develop a new car from about four years to two. It also showed a new central computer that is 40 times more powerful than today's hardware.
The computer replaces dozens of small control units and much of the wiring. It will first appear in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ. GM also plans hands-free, eyes-off highway driving on more models, including petrol cars and trucks.
π The Backstory
GM tested 300,000 virtual battery designs before building a physical one. It settled on a lithium manganese rich chemistry that it says packs 33 per cent more energy than common LFP cells at a similar cost. Ultium Cells will build the cells in Tennessee.
GM has promised better software before, with mixed results. Its Ultifi platform and the Chevy Blazer launch drew complaints. The company is also building digital twins of its factories to spot problems before they reach the line.
π― Why It Matters
Faster development could mean cheaper electric cars with longer range, but only if GM delivers on software promises it has missed before.
General Motors used its Onward event to promise big changes. It says AI will cut the time to develop a new car from about four years to two. It also showed a new central computer that is 40 times more powerful than today's hardware.
The computer replaces dozens of small control units and much of the wiring. It will first appear in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ. GM also plans hands-free, eyes-off highway driving on more models, including petrol cars and trucks.
GM tested 300,000 virtual battery designs before building a physical one. It settled on a lithium manganese rich chemistry that it says packs 33 per cent more energy than common LFP cells at a similar cost. Ultium Cells will build the cells in Tennessee.
GM has promised better software before, with mixed results. Its Ultifi platform and the Chevy Blazer launch drew complaints. The company is also building digital twins of its factories to spot problems before they reach the line.
Faster development could mean cheaper electric cars with longer range, but only if GM delivers on software promises it has missed before.