Skip to main content

GM to start autonomous vehicle manufacturing and testing in Michigan

Following the signing of the SAVE Act legislation to support autonomous vehicle testing and deployment in Michigan, General Motors is to begin testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. GM also announced it will produce the next generation of its autonomous test vehicles at its Orion Township assembly plant beginning in early 2017. Testing is already underway on GM’s Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan and will now expand to public roads on the facility’s outskirts. Within the next few months,
December 16, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Following the signing of the SAVE Act legislation to support autonomous vehicle testing and deployment in Michigan, 948 General Motors is to begin testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. GM also announced it will produce the next generation of its autonomous test vehicles at its Orion Township assembly plant beginning in early 2017.

Testing is already underway on GM’s Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan and will now expand to public roads on the facility’s outskirts. Within the next few months, testing will expand to metro Detroit, which will become GM’s main location for development of autonomous technology in winter climates.

Workers at the Orion Township assembly plant will build test fleet Bolt EVs equipped with fully autonomous technology. The plant currently manufactures the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Sonic. The new equipment will include LiDAR, cameras, sensors and other hardware designed to ensure system safety, leveraging GM’s proven manufacturing quality standards.

The test fleet vehicles will be used by GM engineers for continued testing and validation of GM’s autonomous technology already under way on public roads in San Francisco and Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as part of the Michigan testing fleet.

GM has been developing its development of autonomous vehicle technology since the beginning of 2016.

In January, the company announced the formation of a dedicated autonomous vehicle engineering team and a US$500 million investment in Lyft to develop an integrated network of on-demand autonomous vehicles in the US. In March, the company announced the acquisition of Cruise Automation to provide deep software talent and rapid development expertise to help speed development.

It began testing autonomous Chevrolet Bolt EVs on the public roads in San Francisco and Scottsdale. The company has more than 40 autonomous vehicles testing in the two cities.

Related Content

  • July 21, 2015
    Mcity test centre for connected and driverless vehicles now open
    The University of Michigan has opened Mcity, the world's first controlled environment specifically designed to test the potential of connected and automated vehicle technologies that will lead the way to mass-market driverless cars. Mcity was designed and developed by U-M's interdisciplinary MTC, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The 32-acre simulated urban and suburban environment includes a network of roads with intersections, traffic signs and signals, streetligh
  • May 6, 2020
    GM ends its Maven car-share business
    Maven car-share brand, launched in 2016, was struggling before the pandemic
  • June 7, 2018
    Cadillac future is V2X, says General Motors
    One of the biggest automotive manufacturers on the planet has signalled its intention to embrace cutting-edge ITS technology across an iconic brand. General Motors is to introduce vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications – while extending a semi-autonomous, hands-free driver assistance feature - in its Cadillac range. The company made the announcement in a keynote speech at ITS America’s annual meeting in Detroit. Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president (above), global product development, purchasing an
  • September 16, 2014
    TRW demonstrates semi-automated driving features
    TRW Automotive Holdings is to demonstrate is semi-automated driving capabilities at the Company's vehicle test track event in Locke Township, Michigan, today. Drivers will be able to experience a 'highway driving assist' feature which can enable automatic steering, braking and acceleration for highway speeds above 25 mph. The demonstration vehicle integrates TRW's AC1000 radar and next generation camera prototype together with its electrically powered steering belt drive (EPS BD) and electronic stability