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IIHS: High numbers of drivers treat partially automated cars as fully self-driving

WASHINGTON — Drivers using advanced driver assistance systems like Tesla Autopilot or General Motors Super Cruise often treat their vehicles as fully self-driving despite warnings, a new study has found. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an industry funded group that prods automakers to make safer vehicles, said on Tuesday a survey found regular users of Super Cruise, Nissan/Infiniti ProPILOT Assist and Tesla Autopilot "said they were more likely to perform non-driving-related activities like eating or texting while using their partial automation systems than while driving unassisted." The IIHS study of 600 active users found 53% of Super Cruise, 42% of Autopilot and 12% of ProPILOT Assist owners "said that they were comfortable treating their vehicles as fully self-driving." About 40% of users of Autopilot and Super Cruise — two systems with lockout features for failing to pay attention — reported systems had at some point switched off while they were driving and would not reactivate. "The big-picture message here is that the early adopters of these systems still have a poor understanding of the technologyÂ’s limits," said IIHS President David Harkey. The study comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is scrutinizing Autopilot crashes. Since 2016, the NHTSA has opened 37 special investigations involving 18 deaths in crashes involving Tesla vehicles and where systems like Autopilot were suspected of use. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment. Tesla says Autopilot does not make vehicles autonomous and is intended for use with a fully attentive driver who is prepared to take over. GM, which in August said owners could use Super Cruise on 400,000 miles (643,740 km) of North American roads and plans to offer Super Cruise on 22 models by the end of 2023, did not immediately comment. IIHS said advertisements for Super Cruise focus on hands-free capabilities while Autopilot evokes the name used in passenger airplanes and "implies TeslaÂ’s system is more capable than it really is." IIHS in contrast noted ProPILOT Assist "suggests that itÂ’s an assistance feature, rather than a replacement for the driver." NHTSA and automakers say none of the systems make vehicles autonomous. Nissan said its name "is clearly communicating ProPILOT Assist as a system to aid the driver, and it requires hands-on operation.

An all-electric Hummer is reportedly under consideration at GM

GM is reportedly considering a return to the Hummer brand, but not in the traditional Hummer way. No, a report from Bloomberg says that GM is mulling over the idea of building an electric Hummer. The report cites unnamed sources within GM, as the folks prefer not to be named due to the private nature of the conversations. At this point, Bloomberg characterizes the Hummer talks as preliminary discussions. GM is figuring out how it wants to organize its future electric trucks and SUVs, and Hummer is a part of those discussions. Just as anyone would expect, Hummer could be used to profit off the current demand for rugged and tough vehicles. Mark Reuss didn't commit either way to a Hummer revival when asked by Bloomberg. "I love Hummer. I don't know. We're looking at everything," Reuss said. Other GM sources said that the company sees an opportunity to compete with Jeep for off-road vehicles that have creature comforts commanding high premiums. The report states that designers have done work with Hummer concepts, experimenting with Hummer styling to implement it on GMC-branded products, too. There's also the question of whether an electric Hummer is a smart move to begin with. Folks bought up Hummers before because they're big, brawny, good off-road, and gas was cheap. Gas is relatively cheap today, but attitudes around cars that achieve 10 mpg have changed. Rivian thinks that consumers are interested in premium electric SUVs and trucks, and the hype around that company is real right now. An electric Hummer would undoubtedly go after the same space as the Rivian R1S. The number of people willing to drop over $70,000 on an electric adventure vehicle is still untested, though. Even if GM did give an electric Hummer project the green light, we're still years away. We know GM is currently in development of an electric pickup truck platform, but that doesn't mean it's anywhere close to production. We haven't seen a new Hummer since GM halted sales of the brand in 2010. The recession and high gas prices drove sales down so low that Hummer declared bankruptcy in 2009, but GM still kept the brand in its portfolio. It's hard to think of a better time than the SUV and crossover hoopla of today to introduce something like an electric Hummer, but until we hear something more substantial from GM, the vehicle is going to remain a rumor.

GMC Hummer EV hits Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog for twice the price

This winter season, Nieman Marcus is getting into the true meaning of Christmas by offering a bunch of seriously expensive stuff in its annual holiday catalog. There's usually at least one automotive offering, and this year it's a 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 for an eye-watering $285,000. That's $172,405 more than the regular Edition 1 crab-walker, which is priced by GMC at $112,595. And what does one get for more than 2.5 times the cost of the most expensive electric Hummer? Well, hold your 1,000 horses, because this isn't just any Hummer EV Edition 1. No, it's a one-off Barrett-Jackson Hummer EV Edition 1. The interior of this Barrett-Jackson edition Hummer has been "curated" by Craig Jackson himself. And by curated, they mean it has a bunch of red trim everywhere and is garnished with a Neiman Marcus logo. Aside from that, there is nothing appreciably different about it. No performance upgrades, no special paint job. You do get an electric charging station at home, though, which might be the most useful addition to this whole enterprise. If that's not worth the price of an entire 1.5 extra Hummers to you, there's more. You get two VIP passes for the opening gala of the Barrett-Jackson auctions in exotic Scottsdale, Ariz. During the auction, you'll get access for two to Carolyn and Craig Jackson's personal skybox from where you can watch 1,500 cars trade hands. But don't get too comfy, because at some point you'll be invited on stage to receive your Hummer EV in front of a gaggle of inebriated fishing boat dealership owners. Oh, and you'll also get to bang the little auction hammer. You can pair the Hummer with other gifts in Nieman Marcus' "fantasy" catalog, like a $6.1 million dollar diamond ring. However, if you go with the $395,000 Great Gatsby-style roaring '20s party, make sure it doesn't end with the 9,000-pound Hummer Daisy Buchanan-ing any bystanders. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.