Did you know there are over 960,000 kilometres of mapped roads across Canada and the US for hands-free driving? That’s the scale of Super Cruise–GM’s hands-free driving technology– built by Canadian talent.
“Ontario’s talent ecosystem is among the best in the world.”
Reza Zarringhalam, GM
With features like Signal Activated Lane Change and Automatic Lane Change, drivers can choose to use Super Cruise to help scan for safe gaps and support lane changes. Or they can let the system automatically monitor surrounding traffic and determine the optimal time to pass another vehicle or prepare for a highway exit.
Behind this technology is Reza Zarringhalam, Principal Software Engineer at GM and one of the key architects of Super Cruise. With over 50 patents to his name, his work spans autonomous driving, advanced control systems, AI and data science.
“I’ve always had a passion for math and coding,” said Zarringhalam. “I wrote my first line of code when I was 10, designed AI algorithms for collision avoidance during my Master’s, and joined GM’s R&D team as an intern during my PhD. I was exposed to their technology and calibre of talent, and that’s how it started. I’ve been there for 10 years.”
Today, Zarringhalam leads teams working on GM’s data engineering pipelines for autonomous driving.
“Ontario’s talent ecosystem is among the best in the world,” said Zarringhalam. “What makes it special is the collaboration between world-class universities and industry, and a strong pipeline of Canadian and international talent. It’s why major breakthroughs in AI, autonomous driving, software, and engineering are initiated right here in Ontario.”
GM Canada supports talent by providing the facilities and infrastructure engineers need to do their best work. The company operates three engineering campuses in Ontario, including the Markham Canadian Technical Centre, the Oshawa Canadian Technical Centre, and the 55-acre test facility known as the McLaughlin Advanced Technology Track. Here, real vehicles are put through real-world scenarios in a controlled environment.
“We design code, test new features, and get results on the same day,” said Zarringhalam. “The facility allows us to recreate complex driving scenarios, which enables us to develop new functionalities really quickly.”
When the team set out to enable hands-free driving while towing a trailer, they used the track to simulate sharp turns and interactions with other vehicles and objects.
“Towing a trailer adds a new dimension to vehicle dynamics and significantly complicates the hands-free operation,” said Zarringhalam. “We needed Super Cruise to adjust in real time to the size, weight, and turning radius of a trailer, without having access to any sensors on the trailer itself. It was an expansion initiated by GM Canada engineers, and one we knew we could achieve with the resources we have here.”
As global competition in hands-free and eyes-off driving intensifies, GM Canada continues to expand its capabilities while looking ahead to what’s next.
Earlier this year, the company finished mapping roads in Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland. Drivers of one of GM’s 23 compatible models can now travel with Super Cruise from the easternmost point in Newfoundland to the western edge of Canada in Victoria.
In 2028, GM will introduce eyes-off driving on the Cadillac ESCALADE IQ, followed by additional gas and electric vehicles, starting on highways and expanding over time.
“The work in Ontario is just beginning,” said Zarringhalam. “If someone is looking to work on cutting-edge technologies, interact with many brilliant engineers, have access to the best-in-class tools, and you’re excited to help make autonomy a reality in Canada, GM is one of the best opportunities out there.”
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Experience Super Cruise, GM Canada’s award-winning, hands-free driver assistance technology — and discover the Canadian engineers making it possible.
All images courtesy GM