Chrysler Debuted 'Auto-Pilot' Technology Way Back In 1958

July 26, 2026 - 21:36

Tesla's Autopilot often steals headlines as a modern marvel, but Chrysler quietly introduced its own version of the technology more than six decades ago. In 1958, the automaker offered an optional "Auto-Pilot" system that aimed to reduce driver fatigue on long highway trips. Far from the advanced sensor suites of today, Chrysler's system was a clever mechanical and hydraulic setup.

The 1958 Auto-Pilot worked by using a dash-mounted control unit connected to the car's speedometer and throttle. Drivers would set a desired speed, and the system would automatically maintain it by adjusting the throttle through a vacuum-powered servo. If the car slowed on an incline, the servo would open the throttle further. On a downhill stretch, it would close it to prevent speeding. The driver could disengage the system by tapping the brake pedal, just like modern cruise control.

Chrysler marketed the feature as a luxury convenience for the era's growing interstate highway network. It was not a true autonomous system by any stretch, but it did free the driver's right foot for long stretches. The option was available on certain Chrysler, DeSoto, and Imperial models through the early 1960s. While it never became a mainstream hit, the 1958 Auto-Pilot laid the groundwork for the cruise control systems that would become standard in nearly every car decades later. It is a forgotten footnote in automotive history, but one that shows the dream of hands-free driving is far older than the electric car era.