TL;DR
Get business pricing on garage and car supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
GM senior vice president Jaclyn McQuaid said Cadillac could one day build cars without steering wheels as the automaker develops autonomous vehicles. She also said people who want a V Blackwing will still be able to drive one; GM has not announced a steering-wheel-free Cadillac or a timetable for one.
General Motors is not ruling out future Cadillacs without steering wheels, but senior vice president of vehicle products Jaclyn McQuaid said drivers who want a V Blackwing will still be able to drive one. Her comments, made on The Drivecast, describe autonomy as one possible direction for the Cadillac lineup rather than a plan to replace driver-operated cars across the range.
Asked whether enthusiasts should worry that the steering wheel could disappear from the Blackwing, McQuaid told The Drive, “I can’t say that there won’t be Cadillacs where that one day happens.” When the conversation was clarified to focus on Blackwings, she added that people who want to drive a V Blackwing will be able to do so. The distinction matters: her remarks leave open a future autonomous Cadillac, but do not announce a wheel-free Blackwing or specify a production model.
McQuaid said GM does not have to apply autonomous technology to every vehicle in the same way. She pointed to continuing uses for cars built around driving, including the company’s involvement in racing, Formula One and NASCAR. She also described herself as a lover of driving and vehicles who would want her own vehicle.
The Drive reports that GM plans to introduce its eyes-off autonomous driving system in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ before expanding it to the automaker’s full-size light-duty trucks. The report also describes a future feature called Mission Mode that would let those vehicles run errands. Those plans concern a different part of GM’s lineup from the Blackwing performance cars.
Two Paths for Cadillac Drivers
The comments indicate GM sees room for both autonomous transportation and cars whose appeal depends on a person being at the wheel. That distinction matters to Cadillac buyers: autonomy could offer another way to travel, while performance models can continue to serve drivers who want to control the car themselves.
McQuaid also linked autonomy to mobility and independence for people who may eventually stop driving. A vehicle that can handle some trips could offer an alternative for those consumers, although GM has not provided details here about how such vehicles would work, who they would serve or when they might reach customers. For enthusiasts, her assurance is narrower and more immediate: GM’s executive said Blackwing drivers will still be able to drive their cars.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Blackwing and GM’s Autonomy Plans
The Blackwing name identifies Cadillac’s high-performance models, which put the driving experience at the center of their appeal. The Drive’s report says GM has confirmed a gas-powered next-generation CT5 and reports that a future CT5-V will offer a naturally aspirated V8 and a manual transmission. These details support the outlet’s account of a continuing performance-car direction, but McQuaid’s comments alone do not confirm specific specifications or a launch date for that reported package.
GM’s autonomous plans are also at a different stage from a hypothetical Cadillac without a steering wheel. According to The Drive, the company expects to start with an eyes-off system in the 2028 Escalade IQ, then extend it to full-size light-duty trucks. The report says Mission Mode could allow vehicles to perform errands. McQuaid’s remarks set out a broad view of future product choices; they do not establish that every autonomous system or feature described is already available.
““I can’t say that there won’t be Cadillacs where that one day happens.””
— Jaclyn McQuaid, GM senior vice president of vehicle products, speaking to The Drive
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
No Wheel-Free Cadillac Is Announced
GM has not announced a steering-wheel-free Cadillac, named a model that would use one, or said when such a vehicle might be built. McQuaid’s wording was a statement that she could not rule out the possibility, not confirmation that GM has approved a production plan. Her Blackwing assurance also does not provide details about future model specifications, availability or how long driver-operated versions will remain on sale.
The timing and capabilities of the reported autonomous features remain limited in the source material. The Drive places the planned start for GM’s eyes-off system in the 2028 Escalade IQ, but the comments do not explain its operating conditions or give a rollout schedule for other vehicles beyond the reported order. It is also unclear when Mission Mode would become available.
Autonomous driving system Cadillac Escalade IQ
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Watch for Model and System Details
The next specific milestone cited in The Drive’s report is GM’s planned introduction of its eyes-off system in the 2028 Escalade IQ, followed by a planned expansion to full-size light-duty trucks. GM has not provided, in the material cited, a date for Mission Mode or a timeline for any Cadillac without a steering wheel.
For performance-car buyers, the questions to watch are whether GM confirms the reported next-generation CT5-V details and what versions it ultimately offers. Until the company announces a model or production plan, McQuaid’s remarks establish a possible future direction and a stated commitment to keeping Blackwings drivable—not a change to current Cadillac offerings.
Performance cars with manual driving options
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Has GM announced a Cadillac without a steering wheel?
No. McQuaid said she could not rule out such a Cadillac one day, but GM has not announced a model, production plan or launch date.
Will future Blackwings still be driven by their owners?
McQuaid said people who want to drive a V Blackwing will be able to drive one. She did not give details about future model specifications or availability.
When is GM’s eyes-off driving system expected?
The Drive reports that GM plans to introduce the system in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ, with full-size light-duty trucks to follow. The source material does not give further rollout dates.
What is Mission Mode?
The Drive describes Mission Mode as a planned feature that would let vehicles run errands. The report does not provide a release date or detailed explanation of how it would operate.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
