Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors (GM), reaffirmed the company’s dedication to developing autonomous vehicles during a Detroit Economic Club event. Barra’s remarks align with the industry trend of enhancing vehicle features to improve safety compared to human-driven cars, despite facing increased regulatory scrutiny following accidents involving self-driving vehicles.
Barra highlighted the potential of autonomous vehicles, stating, “If you think about autonomous vehicles, that’s the ultimate in artificial intelligence, coupled with machine learning. That really leads to a world where we’re going to be safer because 90% of accidents that happen on the roads today… were caused by human error.”
Regarding global competition, Barra emphasized the importance of strong brands in the market. She commented, “We have to compete and win based on strong brands. Governments around the world are looking to make sure there’s a level playing field.”
Barra acknowledged the dynamic nature of the industry, stating, “There’s a lot that keeps you up at night. It’s just such a dynamic time. You’ve got to constantly be a little paranoid.”
When asked about her tenure as CEO, Barra expressed her focus on GM’s transformation, stating, “That’s a question for the board, not for me. I’m having a lot of fun and I want to make sure we have our transformation on a good path. I don’t think I’m headed anywhere soon.”
Regarding Elon Musk and Tesla, Barra conveyed respect for Musk and acknowledged the different approaches taken by entrepreneurs and innovators. She emphasized GM’s commitment to addressing issues consistent with its company values.
