For release: Aug. 1, 2006
ONSTAR DEBUTS TURN-BY-TURN NAVIGATION SYSTEM, MARKS 10 YEARS OF INNOVATION
From a dealer-installed option on just 1,000 vehicles in 1997 to more than four million subscribers today, OnStar has evolved from a “nice-to-have” safety feature to a comprehensive suite of communication, safety and security services that customers increasingly rely on for peace of mind.
In just a decade, OnStar has become not only a key differentiator for GM cars and trucks, but a highly innovative company with far-reaching influence within the technology sector.
With seven generations of hardware in 10 years, OnStar’s services have evolved to include increasingly sophisticated features, including OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation (new for 2007), Hands-Free Calling, Advanced Automatic Crash Notification and, just introduced last year, OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics.
Technologies such as OnStar are becoming increasingly more important in the vehicle purchase decision. According to a recent survey by Accenture, more than eight out of 10 U.S. car owners want some form of in-vehicle technologies, including telematics, in their cars, with safety and security features being the most desired.
And according to an OnStar survey, more than 75 percent of OnStar subscribers say they prefer to have OnStar in their next vehicle, and almost 90 percent of subscribers say they would recommend the service to others.
For the 2007 model year, 60 percent of GM vehicles will have OnStar standard, and by the 2008 model year, nearly all of GM’s U.S. retail lineup will feature standard OnStar.
“OnStar continues to develop and offer subscribers an innovative, expanded suite of services that enhance safety and security, as well as provide overall peace of mind," said Chet Huber, OnStar president. “Our priority has been to focus on services that matter to all customers, not just early adopters, and to make them easy to use. With OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, for example, we’re demystifying navigation technology to bring safe, simple and affordable GPS-based routing to the mass market.”
On average, each month from December 2005 to February 2006, OnStar received 1,200 air bag deployment notifications; 340 Advanced Automatic Crash Notifications; 12,000 emergency services; 400 stolen vehicle location assistance requests; 40,000 remote unlock requests; 5,500 Good Samaritan calls; 310,000 route support calls; more than 12 million hands-free calling interactions; 41,000 remote diagnostics (on demand), and more than 1 million OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics sign-ups ( April 2006).
OnStar services
OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation: OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation is the first factory-installed, fully integrated GPS navigation system, and highlights OnStar’s new generation of in-vehicle hardware.
OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation offers safe, simple interactions, with no data entry or touch screen to distract drivers from the road; and convenient, voice-guided directions delivered through the radio speakers to guide drivers turn-by-turn to their destination. All drivers need to do is press the OnStar blue button, give the advisor an address or point-of-interest destination and directions are sent to the vehicle. OnStar advisors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In 2007, more than 1 million GM vehicles will be equipped with OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation.
OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation is part of the Directions and Connections OnStar service package. Directions and Connections is part of the standard suite of services on premium brands such as Buick and Cadillac, and is available on other GM brands.
OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics: This GM-exclusive service runs hundreds of diagnostic checks on the vehicle’s four key operating systems, collects valuable maintenance and service information and sends a monthly personalized e-mail directly to the owner. To date, more than 1 million GM vehicle owners have signed up for the service, making it the fastest-growing feature in OnStar’s 10-year history.
OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics service can be activated on most 2004 model year or newer OnStar-equipped GM vehicles that have the GM Oil Life System.
The unique e-mail report also provides maintenance reminders based on the vehicle’s current odometer reading, reminds owners of outstanding recall notices, remaining engine oil life and other relevant ownership and OnStar information.
Additional enhancements, including local fuel station information for E85 FlexFuel compatible vehicles, are under development and will be rolled out during the next several months.
Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (ACCN): OnStar’s next generation of air bag deployment notification is Advanced Automatic Crash Notification, or AACN. Using a series of sensors, with an AACN activation, the OnStar system automatically calls an OnStar advisor if the vehicle is involved in a qualified frontal, rear or side-impact crash, regardless of air bag deployment. AACN provides crash severity information to OnStar advisors, who have the ability to relay it to emergency services, thereby helping to decrease response times, enhance preparedness at medical facilities and deliver the most appropriate response in order to save lives.
Three million GM vehicles will be equipped with AACN in 2007, with the number of AACN-equipped models increasing from 25 to 40.
OnStar Hands-Free Calling: OnStar provides access to voice-activated, hands-free calling that is fully integrated into the vehicle, offering a safer and more convenient way to call while driving. OnStar is the leading reseller of cellular airtime minutes, with more than 700 million to date. OnStar also offers its America's Choice With OnStar handset program, which allows customers to share their airtime minutes and use the safety of OnStar Hands Free Calling while driving, and the convenience of their Verizon handheld phone when outside the vehicle.
Partnerships: Since its earliest days, OnStar has worked with leading public safety and emergency medical organizations, including the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO); the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and the National Association of EMS Physicians. These efforts help ensure public safety entities receive all essential information to respond to emergencies involving OnStar subscribers, or that are reported by OnStar subscribers acting as Good Samaritans.
OnStar is proud of is its relationship with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Providing the largest mobile fleet of Good Samaritans on the road, OnStar uses GPS satellite, wireless technologies and the expertise of its call center advisors to help find missing children. Any OnStar subscriber who wants to report information related to an AMBER Alert, missing or lost child can press the red OnStar emergency button in his or her vehicle. Immediately, the subscriber will be connected with an OnStar advisor who will expedite the call to one of the nation's 6,000 emergency service centers.
OnStar is also a member of the ComCARE (Communications for Coordinated Assistance and Response to Emergencies) Alliance, which is a coalition of more than 100 organizations that work to encourage the development and deployment of life saving communications technologies that will enhance America's emergency response capabilities.
In addition, OnStar has joined with the TV show “America's Most Wanted” in an effort to profile ordinary people and, with the help of OnStar, their extraordinary life situations. The OnStar "Call to Action" segment featured on “ America 's Most Wanted” depicts OnStar Good Samaritans who have assisted with locating missing or lost children, reporting crashes, locating stolen vehicles and capturing suspected criminals. OnStar regularly assists law enforcement in locating subscribers' stolen vehicles and in doing so, has helped police find suspected criminals involved in auto theft rings, carjackings, drug trafficking and robberies.
About OnStar
OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the world’s leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services. OnStar is available on more than 50 2006 GM models and includes one year of complimentary services, and will become standard on nearly all GM retail vehicles in the United States by the end of 2007. OnStar provides services to more than four million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. Turn-by-Turn is currently available to subscribers who have anti-lock braking systems and the latest generation of OnStar hardware. More information about OnStar and all of its services can be found at www.onstar.com.
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Contact:
Reneé Rashid-Merem
OnStar Communications
Phone: 313-665-3170
E-mail: renee.rashid-merem@gm.com