GM Creates New Autonomous Vehicle Development Team
Company veteran Doug Parks will lead the group.
General Motors is quickly preparing for the future of driverless cars. Not only will it launch its "Super Cruise" semi-autonomous driving technology for Cadillac next year, but it has also entered the car-sharing business that will likely prove key to the rollout of driverless vehicles. Now, GM is building a dedicated team to manage its autonomous car strategy.
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According toThe Detroit News, GM announced internally that it will create the Autonomous and Technology Vehicle Development Team. The group will work within the company's product development division to "create the future direction of GM vehicle programs in the autonomous and technologically advanced vehicle space."
Doug Parks, current vice president of Global Product Programs, will lead the new team starting February 1. In his new role, he will serve as vice president of autonomous technology and vehicle execution. Other members will include executives drawn from the EV space, including Pam Fletcher, current executive chief engineer of Global Electric Vehicles, and Andrew Farah, chief engineer of Global Electrified Vehicles. Scott Miller, current director of global C02 strategy, and Sheri Hickok, current chief engineer of GM's Next-Generation Light Duty Pickup, will also join the team.
The team will focus on both the creation and implementation of autonomous cars and their related technologies. It will also be tasked with forming partnerships and joint ventures with other companies when it comes to driverless cars.
"We see the future of personal mobility as connected, seamless and autonomous," GM President Dan Ammann said earlier this month when the company announced it would partner with Lyft to create a network of autonomous cars for hire. On that note, GM has also created its own personal mobility brand, Maven, that is expected to eventually include an autonomous ride-sharing strategy.
Source: The Detroit News
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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