GM's Cruise plans high-definition mapping

General Motors’ Cruise Automation is working on a high-definition mapping business in a move that will enable it to compete with companies such as Google that are developing autonomous vehicles.  

Wall Street Journal reported that the company is appointing a head of mapping, who will 'own the strategy, planning, and execution of our specialised HD maps'. 

GM purchased Cruise Automation in 2016.

The technology used in developing autonomous vehicles can also be used in producing HD maps for roads and cities. Consequently, firms working on autonomous technology are building their own high-definition maps. 

The high-definition maps incorporate LiDAR, radar and visual information that show details down to a millimetre-level. 

Several firms are working on HD mapping for autonomous vehicles, including Civil Maps, which is backed by Ford. 

Although several auto manufacturers leave the HD mapping aspect to partners in the supply system, it is an important element of autonomous vehicle technology. 

GM’s mapping initiative through Cruise will eventually include more than 100 cities.

Earlier this month, GM announced that it has completed production of 130 Chevrolet Bolt EV test vehicles, which are equipped with next-generation self-driving technologies. 

The new test vehicles are produced at GM’s Orion assembly plant in Michigan.

These vehicles will be added to the existing 50 current-generation self-driving Bolt EVs that are deployed in testing fleets in San Francisco, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Metro Detroit, Michigan.