Al Root
General Motors shares hit a record high on Tuesday after the company's better-than-expected third-quarter earnings report. For an encore, the company announced a bevy of new technologies, enabled by some household names in tech, on Wednesday.
Shares of the auto maker were up 0.3% at $66.78 in midday trading, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively.
The move came after shares rose 15% on Tuesday, closing at a record $66.62, according to Dow Jones Market Data. GM emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2009 and shares began trading again in 2010.
Better-than-expected earnings helped. GM announced a third-quarter operating profit of $3.1 billion from revenue of $48.6 billion. Wall Street was looking for an operating profit of $2.7 billion from revenue of $45 billion.
On Wednesday, the company hosted a technology day in New York City. It introduced AI-enabled features, including a self-driving tool that is meant to let drivers stop paying attention to the road.
In 2028, GM plans to introduce "eyes-off driving" on the Cadillac Escalade IQ. The feature will start on highways, allowing drivers to do something else when the system is engaged.
The eyes-off approach sounds a lot like what Tesla is trying to accomplish. It launched a self-driving robo-taxi business in Austin, Texas, in June. Its Full Self-Driving driver-assistance feature, which Tesla owners can purchase for $99 a month, still requires driver supervision 100% of the time.
Tesla's system relies on computers and optical cameras. GM's approach will use computers, cameras, laser-based radar, and conventional radar.
Before eye-off driving, GM will introduce conversational AI assistance powered by Alphabet's Gemini. "Drivers can draft and send messages, and plan routes with context, like finding a charging stop near a favorite coffee shop or even prep for a meeting on the go," reads a news release.
The "heart" of the new AI-fueled systems will be liquid-cooled central computing units powered by processors such as Nvidia's Thor. That approach is also similar Tesla's. It has its own advanced computing onboard every vehicle.
Investors were happy with GM's earnings. Profitability has remained robust even though tariffs have raised costs. Now, GM is investing to ensure that results remain strong down the road.
Write to Al Root at allen.root@dowjones.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 22, 2025 11:03 ET (15:03 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.