CES 2015: GM OnStar to help customers cut the cost of insurance
OnStar smart driver assessment system uses in-car tech to give tips on driving better and cut insurance premiums
GM’s OnStar connectivity system, which is due to launch in the UK and Europe later this year, is set to use its telematics technology to help drivers drive better and reduce the cost of their insurance.
The new scheme announced at the CES show in Las Vegas and launching this summer, will monitor drivers’ behaviour behind the wheel over a 90 day period before providing them with a detailed assessment of their driving.
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And if customers wish, the information can be given to GM’s preferred insurance provider, Progressive Insurance, to prove the case for lower insurance premiums. The collection of driving data will be entirely voluntary and with advanced customer consent.
OnStar, now in its 18th year, is best known for providing a live concierge service where customers can request navigation instructions, while it can also alert the emergency services if the vehicle is involved in an accident that triggers the airbags.
It has since been extended to include in-car wi-fi and remote applications for climate control, locking and unlocking the car and even starting it. Last year OnStar received 43million remote link instructions from a total of seven million global users.
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GM also announced at CES that it will allow OnStar users to get proactive warnings of any potential problems with the battery, fuel or ignition systems that could disable the car before they actually happen. These ‘prognostics’ can then be used to correct a problem that might otherwise leave the driver stranded.
John McFarland, GM’s director of global marketing and innovation for the Global Connected Customer Experience Group told Auto Express: “Entertainment is on the periphery of what we’re doing. We’re building a connected car eco-system. We have built in technology in our cars, brought in technology from smartphones and beamed in tech through the connected car.”
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