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Tag: OnStar

  • Don’t Want GM OnStar? Too Bad…GM Makes It a Mandatory Option

    Don’t Want GM OnStar? Too Bad…GM Makes It a Mandatory Option

    Car and trucker buyers shopping for some GM models, but wanting to avoid OnStar, are out of luck.

    GM OnStar is the company’s premium concierge service that provides navigation, hands-free calling, vehicle diagnostics, emergency services, and more. The service is normally a monthly subscription, although customers that didn’t want to pay it could always opt-out.

    Unfortunately, it appears GM is ending the opt-out option, making a three-year OnStar subscription a mandatory upgrade, according to GM Authority.

    “To enhance our customers’ vehicle ownership experience, beginning June 2, 2022, new retail Buick and GMC vehicles will include three years of OnStar and Connected Services Premium Plan,” a GM spokesperson told the outlet. “This offering provides our owners with a full suite of OnStar and Connected Services for three years, providing them with more time to enjoy services such as remote key fob, Wi-Fi data and OnStar safety services. By including this plan as standard equipment on the vehicle, it provides more customer value and a more seamless onboarding experience.”

    The service will also be a mandatory option for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade.

    “This offering provides our owners with a full suite of OnStar and Connected Services for three years, providing them with more time to enjoy services such as remote key fob, Wi-Fi data and OnStar safety services,” the spokesperson told GM Authority. “By including this plan as standard equipment on the vehicle, it provides more customer value and a more seamless onboarding experience.”

    The price of a three-year subscription for the majority of models comes in at $1,500, with a couple priced at $905 and a couple of other models priced at $1,675. As a result, for the majority of models, the base price will increase by $1,500.

  • GM OnStar Guardian Available for Non-GM Vehicles

    GM OnStar Guardian Available for Non-GM Vehicles

    General Motors has made its OnStar Guardian software available for non-GM vehicles.

    OnStar Guardian is the company’s mobile app, designed to improve safety. For example, OnStar Guarding uses smartphone sensors to detect a crash and alert an Emergency-Certified OnStar Advisor4.

    “We are excited to deliver the power and promise of OnStar’s key safety features to more people in more places with the expanded launch of OnStar Guardian,” said Santiago Chamorro, GM vice president of Global Connected Services. “Over the past year, we’ve heard incredible stories that illustrate how OnStar Guardian has helped our members. As pandemic-related restrictions relax and people begin to travel again, we understand it is important that everyone feels protected and connected. That is why we are expanding this subscription offering based on our expansive insights.”

    The app is available on iOS and Android, and users can add up to seven additional individuals in the MyFamily section. The app is available to all GM drivers with an OnStar subscription. Non-GM drivers can download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and purchase a standalone subscription.

  • GM Enters Car Insurance Game With OnStar

    GM Enters Car Insurance Game With OnStar

    General Motors is looking to transform the automotive insurance industry with the announcement of its OnStar Insurance.

    OnStar has been a signature service offered on GM vehicles for 20 years, providing navigation, hands-free calling, diagnostics, security and emergency services. GM sees an opportunity to capitalize on that track record by offering insurance built around the service.

    Because OnStar has access to existing vehicle systems, it can provide a level of integration and communication other insurance companies would be envious of. OnStar Insurance will provide customers with personalized plans based on their driving habits. Should an accident occur, the system will be able to automatically notify OnStar personal so help can be quickly dispatched.

    “OnStar Insurance will promote safety, security and peace of mind,” said Andrew Rose, president of OnStar Insurance Services. “We aim to be an industry leader, offering insurance in an innovative way. GM customers who have subscribed to OnStar and connected services will be eligible to receive discounts, while also receiving fully-integrated services from OnStar Insurance Services.”

    Provided GM can compete on cost, it’s a safe bet the company will have a hit on its hands with its OnStar Insurance.

  • Find My iPhone Saves Crash Victim’s Life

    The “Find My iPhone” feature built into Apple devices is very handy for locating misplaced phones and iPads. It can be used to find the device by GPS, to send an audible tone to the device even if it is on silent, and even to erase the device remotely if it has been stolen. All you need to do is log in to iCloud with your Apple ID and you can do that and many other things.

    But for Melissa Vasquez, the feature was a literal lifesaver.

    Vasquez’ car flipped down a 500-foot ravine in the mountains near San Jose. Her car had an OnStar system in it, and police were notified of the crash. But OnStar’s system was having trouble pinpointing the location of the crash with enough accuracy to help police locate it.

    OnStar representatives were even able to sound the car horn repeatedly in an attempt to help police zero in on Vasquez’ location, but to no avail.

    Then one of the California Highway Patrol officers had an idea. Officer David Cameron tried to log in to iCloud using Vasquez’ known email address. The issue was guessing the password. Cameron used some common password combinations and managed to guess his way in. The service showed that Vasquez did, indeed, have her iPhone with her. He located the map coordinates where she was.

    Police found Vasquez face-down in the ravine, where she had been ejected from her car. She was rescued and treated in the hospital.

    David Cameron still feels like luck played a role in what he was able to do.

    “I made an educated guess based on a series of common numbers people use for passwords and on the third attempt I was able to get in,” Cameron said. “I think somebody was looking out for her. Things fell in place and had those things not fallen in place, it could have been a totally different story.”

    OnStar worked tirelessly to help police, but still caught some criticism over why their own service could not locate the vehicle. Perhaps their equipment was damaged in the crash. They did issue a statement:

    “We are saddened by this incident involving one of our subscribers. Our subscribers’ safety and security is OnStar’s utmost concern. We are currently conducting a complete investigation, including information we have received from our call centers, our cellular network provider, our engineering team and the local authorities to better understand what occurred.”

  • Google Maps Coming To OnStar

    Google Maps Coming To OnStar

    OnStar and Google have reached a deal that will let OnStar users search for and find places using Google Maps and send those destinations to the Turn-by-Turn Navigation service in their vehicles.

    OnStar eNav will be available on Google Maps at the end of June. Users can access the destinations at any time and get OnStar directions to the destination from wherever they are.

    Nick-Pudar-OnStar

    "eNav is a perfect solution for subscribers who like the flexibility of being able to use Google Maps to plan their trips in advance, but without the hassle of bringing printed maps into the vehicle," said Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president of new business development.

    "The eNav feature of our Turn-by-Turn service allows drivers to keep their eyes, hands and minds where they need to be – on the road."

    The Google Maps option will be available on all current Turn-by-Turn capable GM vehicles starting with the 2006 model year and will also integrate with OnStar Destination Download to send destinations to the vehicle’s screen-based navigation system.

    Last month OnStar and Google introduced mobile mapping and location functions for the Chevrolet Volt electric car that uses the Google Android Platform.