NEW ORLEANS-The world’s largest automaker, General Motors, said it will make OnStar a standard feature on all of its vehicles in the United States and Canada by 2007. The move marks a major milestone for the wireless telematics and communications service, one that has faced its share of challenges.
OnStar is nearing its 10-year anniversary, and during that time has been plagued with predictions of doom. Such rumors intensified after the demise of WingCast, the telematics venture between Ford Motor Co. and Qualcomm Inc. However, OnStar now is profitable and counts more than 3 million subscribers. This announcement likely will further OnStar’s top position in the industry.
OnStar is currently available on more than 50 GM vehicle models. OnStar features include alerting emergency services when air bags deploy, assisting authorities in locating stolen vehicles and remotely unlocking doors when keys are left inside. GM said it will make the service standard on all but some of its commercial vehicles.
