Vauxhall has announced that it will introduce OnStar technology to its vehicle range in the UK this summer as part of a comprehensive new connectivity package.
Offering a high-speed 4G mobile network, emergency response notification and stolen vehicle recovery technology, the OnStar pack aims to make cars more connected and safer than ever.
The package turns each Vauxhall vehicle into a powerful mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing access to apps and services with up to seven mobile devices able to connect to it at once. Passengers can therefore stay in touch with family and friends, play games and even stream movies and TV while on the move.
OnStar also supports a system which automatically alerts emergency services if an airbag deploys, with an advisor contacting the vehicle to determine whether or not help is required. If no response is received, it will then dispatch ambulances to the vehicle on a 24/7 basis, while drivers can also request assistance whenever they need with the simple press of an SOS button.
The system also allows drivers to connect to their vehicle remotely via smartphone app, which allows them to access vehicle data, lock and unlock the car and even honk the horn and flash the lights.
It also offers monthly diagnostic information to help identify upcoming repairs, and can also allow police and owners to track the car if it’s stolen and immobilise the engine to stop thieves.
Free for customers to access for the first year, the package will afterwards work on a subscription basis, with access and assistance costing £79 per year. Available on selected models in Vauxhall’s range from August onwards, the new Astra will be the first car to get the new technology.
Vauxhall claims that its partnership with the safety and security provider will help to recreate the success that OnStar has already had in the United States, Canada and further abroad.
Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director, said: “With OnStar, Vauxhall is bringing the latest connectivity technology to a wider audience.
“OnStar will make driving safer as well as offering new innovations in infotainment and telematics. And best of all, the system will be free to customers for the first year of ownership.”