Let’s take a look at a short video to see how it works: That shows you just how beneficial this system is, and soon it will be available across the Cadillac lineup, and, eventually, beyond. It’s a system that continues to improve, rapidly, and expand its capabilities, and we’re beyond excited about the next generation which, of course, I can’t say anything more about… As I said, this is what the road to self-driving cars looks like, and we continue to make great progress on that front, as well. We’re not the only ones who think so. As we announced last week, the SoftBank Vision Fund will invest $2.25 billion in our autonomous vehicle business. We’ll invest another $1.1 billion ourselves, strengthening our plan to commercialize AV technology at scale as soon as next year. SoftBank’s investment in GM Cruise represents a key validation of the progress we are making in the AV technology space, another proof point of our ability, and our intention, to lead. AVs, built on a foundation of electric vehicles and advanced battery technology, will drive us toward our vision of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. Autonomous vehicles will change the automotive world, and they will change lives. The societal benefits include improved safety first and foremost, as well as increased mobility for those who currently cannot drive due to age, disability, or otherwise . . . and pure convenience. Our autonomous vehicles set a new standard of transportation safety, an intense focus during development, testing and validation. Here’s a look at that testing in action: Our Cruise AV development vehicle, on real roads in San Francisco. That, to me, is what the future looks like.
That’s what the road looks like on the journey to zero crashes – zero emissions – zero congestion. It’s not a journey we take alone. We’re joined by partners from our industry, other industries, academia and various local, state and federal governments. We’re all in this together, the public and private sectors working together to make our roads safer, our air cleaner and our commutes better. I’ve already mentioned the awful numbers about those killed and injured on our roads and roads around the world. Every year, automobiles release almost 2 billion tons of CO2 and other emissions into the atmosphere, affecting our health and our environment. And every year, commuters spend the equivalent of one week stuck in traffic congestion – congestion that costs the world more than $1 trillion annually. We can fix these things. The technology, finally, is within our grasp. We need to commit to the journey. We need to fix and augment our infrastructure and make the improvements necessary to get there. From new V2X technology installation to more EV charging stations to clear and standard AV rules and regulations, there is a role for government to play at each step along the way. We already work extensively with MDOT, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and other local road agencies, on V2X technology research and pilot programs. It would be great if we could get other agencies in other states to join us in moving this technology forward and examining its many applications, and the many ways it can improve lives. Let’s work together to get this done, to take these necessary steps on this journey to the future.