GM Prepares To Test Autonomous Version of 2017 Chevrolet Volt

MILFORD, Michigan – Car shoppers got a glimpse into GM’s future mobility plans on Thursday as the automaker said it plans to test a fleet of autonomous 2017 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid cars in late 2016 and jointly develop a “commercially viable” fuel-cell vehicle with Honda in the 2020 time frame.

The experimental Volts are designed to drive autonomously within GM’s Warren Technical Center campus.

GM employees will reserve a Volt using a car-sharing app and then select a destination. The autonomous technology will bring the Volt to its destination and park it.

“The program will serve as a rapid-development laboratory to provide data and lessons to accelerate the company’s technical capabilities in autonomous vehicles,” GM said in a statement.

GM has been testing its “Super Cruise” autonomous driving technology since 2012 and confirmed on Thursday the feature will be optional on the 2017 Cadillac CT6.

GM said it intends to “capitalize on the future of personal mobility.”

The Detroit automaker also announced two new car- and ride-sharing projects. One is operating in New York City today and another will come in the first quarter of 2016 in an unnamed U.S. city.

Edmunds says: These developments show that GM is keeping up with the competition when it comes to autonomous vehicles and future mobility.