General Motors continues to push the next generation of autonomous driving technology, including plans to launch Level 3 “eyes off” driver assistance in the next few years. Now, several GMC Yukon prototypes have been seen up close with roof-mounted hardware believed to be key in the development of this new Level 3 technology.
This latest test vehicle offers one of the clearest glimpses yet into the development efforts behind GM’s upcoming Level 3 autonomous driving system.
The prototype appears to be based on the current fifth-generation GMC Yukon (post-2025 refresh), with several units parked together behind a fenced yard. Most notable is the large, complex array of sensors mounted on the roof of each vehicle. The setup includes a central cylinder, likely a lidar sensor, flanked by additional sensor pods and support brackets that extend outward along the edge of the roof.
Obviously, this setup is a test configuration, not something production ready. Additional components (perhaps cameras and radar units) are positioned at different angles to capture a wide field of view around the vehicle.
The recently spotted GMC Yukon prototype is in line with GM’s plans to roll out Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities by 2028, starting with the Cadillac Escalade IQ. The system will allow “unattended” driving under certain conditions, representing a significant step beyond the hands-free Super Cruise system currently offered.
Level 3 technology will be powered by a new centralized computing platform, which will once again debut in the all-electric Escalade IQ. GM claims this architecture will provide dramatically increased processing capabilities, enabling faster data handling and more sophisticated decision making for autonomous functions.
For readers who may have missed it, GM announced that it is ending its Cruise Origin robotaxi program at the end of 2024, opting to shift its autonomous development efforts to consumer vehicles. In fact, a fleet of Cruise Origin robotaxis have been spotted stored at the automaker’s Milford Proving Ground.
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