GM started the connected car revolution 20 years ago with the launch of OnStar.
Now Holden has confirmed that cutting-edge OnStar technology will be rolled out across the Holden portfolio from 2019, offering Australian customers connectivity and peace of mind.
Holden will be launching OnStar in 2019 initially with the Equinox SUV and then progressively rolling the technology out across all Holden products.
At a glance, OnStar is planning to offer the following services in Australia:
• automatic crash response
• 24/7 emergency services
• stolen vehicle assistance
• vehicle diagnostics
• MyHolden mobile application
• remote start and door unlock
• In-vehicle 4G LTE Wi-Fi internet hotspots with ability to connect up to seven devices
“While OnStar uses very powerful and advanced technologies to deliver its services in the car and via the web and smart devices, it is simple and easy for the customer to use,’’ says Peter Keley, managing director, OnStar General Motors International.
“OnStar’s human touch is what makes it unique and differentiates it from other telematics services in the market.
“And the above is just the beginning.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Once we connect you to your car remotely the possibilities to create experiences that make your drive more enjoyable and the way that we can enhance the usage of your time are endless.[/social_quote]
“This is an important step as we will continue to grow GM’s connected vehicle solutions in this region of the world in the coming years,’’ he said.
Originally launched in North America in 1996, OnStar offers emergency, security, navigation, connections and vehicle manager services and will be available in Holden vehicles through a subscription model.
OnStar serves nearly 13 million members in the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, Europe and South America.
Holden says OnStar will offer Australian customers a proven automatic crash and emergency response feature, the ultimate peace of mind, utilising GPS satellites and enhanced mobile capability to provide greater accuracy of location and greater coverage to get emergency services to customers wherever they need them.
OnStar will also provide security with the ability to protect your vehicle by providing alerts should the vehicle move away from its defined location, ignition blocking, and remote slow-down of confirmed stolen vehicles.
There’s also real-time health checks of your vehicle to better tailor maintenance requirements to your specific driving conditions, and allows customers to use their mobile phone to monitor and track the health and service requirements of their vehicles via the MyHolden app.
There’s also the convenience of being able to remotely lock and unlock your vehicle wherever you might be in the world as well as assistance in helping you to find your vehicle in a crowded car park not just through location but by remote activation of the vehicle horn and hazard flashers
Furthermore, OnStar provides the ability to become a safer and more fuel-efficient driver by obtaining direct feedback on your driving style and techniques.
For fleet users, Holden will be able to provide a range of services to assist companies to promote a safe workplace when employees are in vehicles as well as full telematics capability.
Additional information about availability of Holden vehicles sold in Australian with OnStar service and pricing will be announced in due course.
