GM Aims to Boost Development of Self-Driving Cars with HD mapping

GM is making rapid advances with regard to self-driving technology. Last year, the company had bought Cruise Automation, a startup specializing in self-driving car technology, and now Cruise Automation is venturing into HD mapping as Cruise Automation is recruiting a Head of Mapping. The new hire will oversee strategy, planning, and execution of GM’s specialized HD maps, according to the job description.

GM is the largest auto manufacturer in the United States but when it comes to self-driving cars, the company is playing catchup with tech companies like Google and now even Apple, which recently announced major plans in this direction. In fact, Google has used its proprietary mapping technology to give an edge to its self-driving project called Waymo.

One advantage that GM does have when compared to these companies is that it has actual cars on the road. In 2016, GM had announced that it would begin to use OnStar, which is a safety system and in-car concierge on GM models to create maps for autonomous vehicles. Now, the company is ready to leverage all that data.

GM had also announced recently that it was adding an additional 130 cars to its test fleet of autonomous Chevy Bolts. With the addition of the prototype driverless cars and its efforts to focus on HD mapping, it looks like GM is really intent on closing the gap between the company and the leaders in the field when it comes to self-driving cars.