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It’s not hard to get into an argument on the Internet about cars, autonomy, or self-driving features. At General Motors, the executive team has already made up its mind and the future is being laid out: there will be autonomous cars.
On the latest episode of The Drivecast, Senior Vice President of Vehicle Products at General Motors Jaclyn McQuaid told The Drive, “I can’t say that there won’t be Cadillacs where that one day happens,” when asked whether enthusiasts who love the Blackwing need to worry about the steering wheel disappearing.
Listen below to the moment McQuaid addresses the topic of steering wheels, Blackwings, and autonomy.
McQuaid gave enthusiasts relief by following the statement with, “… but if somebody wants [to drive a] V Blackwing, they’re going to be able to drive a Blackwing” after I clarified we were talking about Blackwings.
For enthusiasts or consumers who fear they’ll lose the thing they love because of autonomy, McQuaid said, “But it doesn’t have to be a one-size-fits-all answer. I think some people get concerned about that because there’s this, you know, idea that it’s one-size-fits-all and it’s going to necessitate that we flow it through the entire portfolio.”
“There are still use cases I see, I mean, look at how invested we are in racing, and invested we are in F1, and invested as we are in NASCAR, etc.,” McQuaid said.
The executive pointed to “advancement of societal needs and the role that General Motors can play in society, and giving people back what they had as they advanced through the years and what they were at risk of losing.” McQuaid was referencing the loss of independence as consumers age out of driving.
McQuaid noted, “I’m a lover of driving and I’m a lover of vehicles, I’ll want my own vehicle.”
Cadillac’s already confirmed a gas-powered next-generation CT5, and The Drive broke the news that the next CT5-V will offer a naturally aspirated V8 along with a manual transmission. And GM’s said the Blackwing has no direct rival since Cadillac quit chasing BMW.
While future Cadillacs might not have steering wheels, we are a ways off from that reality. GM will first roll out its eyes-off autonomous driving system in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ before it rolls out to the automaker’s full-size light-duty trucks. Eventually Mission Mode will enable these vehicles to run errands for you.
For now, McQuaid says Blackwing buyers will still get to drive their Blackwings, and The Drive’s reporting points to a next-gen CT5-V with a dream package. But someday it sounds like non-enthusiasts will have a different option to choose from.
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As Director of Content and Product, Joel draws on over 15 years of newsroom experience and inability to actually stop working to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media. He’s also a World Car Award juror.
