GM has just revealed a first look into its Cruise AV, a car that is free of a steering wheel and pedals. Upon acceptance of the vehicle's technologies and mechanisms by the 'National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,' GM's Cruise AV will be available to the public next year. Releasing in 2019, the vehicle has technology that can be used to improve ride-share services.
Differentiating itself from other self-driving technologies, the Cruise AV lacks all controls, including buttons. Riders are only passengers in every seat within the vehicle, as there is no seat for the "driver." Aiming to achieve a new level of standard, Dan Ammann, the President of GM states that "what we can do is put the equivalent of the passenger side airbag on that side as well. So its to meet the standards but meet them in a way that's different than what's exactly prescribed, and that's what the petition seeks to get approval for."
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Steering Wheel-free Cars
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the automotive industry by creating fully autonomous vehicles without traditional controls.
- Self-driving Technology
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in ride-sharing services by incorporating self-driving technology into fleet vehicles.
- Regulatory Approval for Autonomous Vehicles
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the regulatory industry by pushing for approval of autonomous vehicles without traditional controls.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Automotive
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the automotive industry by creating fully autonomous vehicles without traditional controls.
- Ride-sharing
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in ride-sharing services by incorporating self-driving technology into fleet vehicles.
- Regulatory
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the regulatory industry by pushing for approval of autonomous vehicles without traditional controls.
