#super-cruise

#super-cruise

During the automaker's Tuesday earnings call, CEO Mary Barra highlighted the rapid growth of GM's in-vehicle software and subscription business. In the past nine months, GM's software generated $2 billion, and customers have already signed up for about $5 billion in future subscriptions. The company said it now has 11 million subscribers for its OnStar safety system, up 34% from a year earlier. Another half a million customers are also paying for Super Cruise, its hands-free driver-assistance system.

Ahead of its fourth-quarter and 2025 annual earnings call today, GM announced that its software and subscription business is quickly gaining steam. The automaker said that last year, it recorded $5.4 billion in deferred revenue (meaning unearned revenue over time, through a recurring service) from its various OnStar-related connected services. These include various safety systems, in-car WiFi, access to audio streaming apps and more. GM is projecting deferred revenue from software to rise to $7.5 billion in 2026.

In the tech world, move fast and break things has evolved from an internal Facebook motto to the default way of operating across countless industries. But when something can literally move fast and break things, a little more care and deliberation is probably a good thing. That seems to be what we're getting from General Motors as it seeks to add LIDAR and "eyes-off" driving to Super Cruise, elevating what's already a "hands-free" experience on most highways.