Julia Corker, the daughter of the so-called "Senator from Nissan", was pulled by her neck out of the Tahoe late at night and the attacker snagged the Tahoe. Thankfully, she's fine. Shortly after the carjacking GM OnStar tracked down the car, contacted police, and two suspects were taken into custody.

Weirdly, Corker's Chief of Staff says the Senator was about to cancel the subscription to OnStar. Good thing he didn't.

[The Chattanoogan]

Photo Credit: Rusty Russell/Getty Images

Conveniently, the video put out by OnStar shows a Tahoe being disabled. How did they know? [AP]

Let's break out the user interactions:

Blue button presses: 55,416
Emergency button presses: 3,939
Airbags deployed: 28
AACN (Advanced Automotive Crash Notification): 62
Total interactions: 59,445

That's pretty amazing when you think about it. Over 60 people in crashes with 28 airbags being deployed, almost 4,000 emergency button presses and 55,416 people calling to find the nearest Starbucks.

What's more amazing is that so few automakers have an opportunity to interact with their buyers directly (usually only through a dealership middle man), and yet GM's managed to get 59,000 people each day to call them and they've all had a positive customer service interaction with the General.

Well, except for that one prank-caller. Some guy named Rick from Detroit who keeps calling to warn people about GM CEO Fritz Henderson being some kind of killer robot from the future or something? Who is that guy?

UPDATE: Onstar's asked if we'd be so kind as to include this at the bottom of the post because they're scared you'll think they're tracking you or some such silliness. Ha! Normally we'd tell a PR person to buzz off, but as we said, we'll give OnStar a bit of a pass because they're pretty sweet. Also they do know we know GM can't afford those black helicopters anymore, right?

OnStar does not continuously or routinely monitor or track the location or speed of your car. OnStar does not listen to or monitor conversations in your car without notice to you. OnStar will not use, share, or otherwise disclose your location or speed information except as expressly stated in OnStar's Privacy Policy.

[via OnStar Connections]

A writer at GearLive owns a couple of OnStar-equipped vehicles and received a survey touting the following Twitter service:

"While in your vehicle, you can use OnStar to submit and retrieve tweets (messages) via your Twitter account. Using OnStar's Voice-Activated Hands-Free Calling system, and having your voice converted into text, you can provide updates which would appear in the "What are you doing?" section of your Twitter homepage. It is also possible to listen to a tweet that was sent to you by someone else after it has been converted into voice. You can send and receive tweets without having to type or read anything."

The service doesn't seem complicated to set up and, using a voice-to-text system like the one found in SYNC, this should already be possible.

We could image all sorts of useful possibilities for this service, but it's more likely to be used like normal Twitter — letting people know completely tedious and useless details about your lives. We'll continue to deem the idea mostly useless until THE_REAL_SHAQ gets it in his Hummer and we can read his road tweets:

@Cbarkely: Y u cut me off? Looking for blow-js?

[Gear Live via AutoBlog]

The program allows OnStar subscribers to dial in to confer with Poison Control when their kids decide those spare quarts of oil rolling around in the back look delicious. According to the writers of this press release, there's been an increase in poisonings in cars as people spend more time in them. Obviously this means Onstar is a feature which makes parents terrified of raising children a lot more secure in their incompetence. Don't read the below press release as you'll be a more stupid person because of it.

OnStar to Partner with Poison Control
DETROIT - OnStar and Poison Control today announced a joint venture that will increase the safety and security of OnStar subscribers. The new relationship will give subscribers access to Poison Control for expert instructions and information on potential poisonings that may occur in or around their vehicles.

With any poison related issue, speed of treatment is the most important factor followed by effectiveness of treatment. Nearly 75 percent of calls received by Poison Control can be handled over the phone. OnStar subscribers now have the added peace of mind that Poison Control is just a button press away should they encounter any type of poisoning situation in their vehicle.

"Most drivers don't anticipate that an accident may not happen on the road but rather in their backseat," said Cathy McCormick, OnStar Emergency Services Manager. "OnStar currently receives about a call a day from subscribers who have specific questions relating to poisonings, and a majority of these calls concern children and pets. This partnership was developed to give subscribers access to Poison Control to assist them with these types of situations."

According to Poison Control, children are the most likely victims of a poisoning accident in a vehicle. One of the possible risks associated with vehicles is a child getting access to a purse that contains medication or getting into grocery bags with household products. Poison Control also receives a large amount of calls concerning the silica gel packets that are commonly found in shoe boxes and other packaged goods.

Pets also are at risk in vehicles as they may gain access to automotive products such as oil and antifreeze or food items such as chocolate or nuts that can be extremely toxic.

"As Americans spend more time in their cars, we're seeing an increase of poison-related accidents in vehicles," said Susan Smolinske, PharmD, medical director of the Children's Hospital of Michigan Poison Control Center, which will manage the relationship. "The car is not a controlled environment and drivers don't always consider the possible exposure to risks outside of the home."

There is no additional fee to OnStar subscribers to contact Poison Control via their OnStar system; access to Poison Control is an extension of OnStar's emergency services line, included in the OnStar subscription that comes standard for one year on OnStar-equipped GM vehicles.

"This partnership is one more example of how OnStar is there for our nearly 6 million subscribers when they need us most - in an emergency," said Steve Schwinke, OnStar Vice President of Service Line Management. "OnStar's comprehensive emergency and security services offers help in the event of a vehicle crash, severe weather crisis and now we can provide a vital link to poison management experts."

[Source: GM]

Toyota Motor Company has recently announced a new in-car proprietary telematics program named Safety Connect for its Toyota models and Enform with Safety Connect for its Lexus luxury brand. The new safety features will slowly make their production debut in select Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the next year. While sharing many similarities with GM’s OnStar system, the Toyota Safety Connect features four main safety and security features: Roadside Assistance, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) and Stolen Vehicle Location (SVL). These features are designed to allow ToMoCo’s customers to have a semblance of safety and security while on the road they wouldn't ordinarily get without such new technologies as a cell phone or a CB radio.

The Toyota brand’s Safety Connect uses embedded GPS and cellular signals to signal for help if an airbag has been deployed or a severe rear-end collision has been detected. In a case where the system isn’t activated automatically, an occupant of the vehicle can use the Emergency Assistance Button (SOS) to contact emergency services manually. The SOS button can also be used to contact Roadside Assistance in the event of a break down. If the vehicle is ever stolen, once a police report has been filed, the Stolen Vehicle Location feature may be activated to locate the car – think of it as a factory Lo-Jack system.

ToMoCo’s luxury brand, Lexus, receives all of the standard Safety Connect features and adds a few more conveniences to make up the Lexus Enform service. Additional features include Destination Assist and eDestination. Consider these two services as a personal in-car concierge that can help with directions as well as recommend local restaurants and hot spots. When the driver has made a choice the destination is sent to the vehicle’s navigation system. If the vehicle owner wants to plan the route themselves, the eDestination service is accessible from any PC and when planning is complete, it will send the information to the navigation system. All of these features will be accessible though the Lexus Flexible Voice Interface, a casual-speech voice recognition system, scheduled to debut on the 2010 RX model.

Look for the GM OnStar rivaling Safety Connect and Enform services to debut in select models later this year, each with an included one-year subscription.

PRESS RELEASE

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Announces Dual-Brand Telematics Programs: Lexus EnformTM and Safety ConnectTM Available in 2009

LAS VEGAS (January 7, 2009) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc. today announced that it will launch its proprietary telematics systems in the year to come. The all-new systems will be available on select models with customized versions for both Lexus and Toyota brands.

"We are proud to introduce these services and advance our relationships with our customers by providing them the features they need to feel safer and more secure while on the road," said Jon Bucci, TMS vice president, Advanced Technology Department. "Our primary focus while developing our services was on three key traits: choice, convenience and control. We feel that our new telematics offerings deliver on these attributes, hitting the mark for what our customers have shown us they will be looking for in their next vehicle purchase."

The Toyota brand will introduce Safety Connect on select Toyota models, helping to bring its drivers an added peace of mind. Lexus will introduce Lexus Enform with Safety Connect, a service built on the foundation of valuable safety and security services with the added layer of more convenience-oriented features and specialized advanced technologies.

New Offerings Built on a Solid Heritage of Quality
With characteristic Toyota vision, sights have been set on bringing Toyota's proprietary telematics products to the U.S. for many years.

"Prior to entering the U.S. market full force, Toyota practiced a deliberate approach to product development based on our experience in Japan, in-depth research and relentless product testing in order to both deliver to customers' expectations and produce systems befitting the Toyota name," said Bucci. "Safety Connect and Lexus Enform are the results of several years of due diligence and dedicated teams working in
partnership with our highly experienced providers."

Safety Connect: A Secure Foundation
Available on both Lexus and Toyota brands, Safety Connect is the cornerstone of Toyota's new telematics offerings and will provide fundamental services to help extend confidence to drivers on the road.

"While a portion of the industry appears to be migrating to reliance upon wireless handheld devices to deliver in-vehicle safety, we've followed our engineering insights and Toyota's G-Book and G-Link roots in Japan," said Bucci. "Based on our experience and research, our core safety and security technology is embedded in the vehicle to help ensure reliability and responsiveness."

As the foundation of Toyota's telematics systems and available on select vehicles,
Safety Connect will include the following four safety and security facets:

Automatic Collision Notification (ACN)
Safety Connect's ACN will help drivers receive the necessary response from emergency teams. In the event of either an airbag deployment or a severe rear-end collision; the response center will be automatically notified via embedded cellular technology and GPS. Once the response center agent receives the vehicle ID and the vehicle's location, the agent can speak with the driver to ascertain the level of emergency. If the driver is unable to communicate, the agent automatically treats the call as an emergency. The response center agent then uses the vehicle's GPS location to determine the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) available to provide emergency support and will offer to stay on the line until emergency assistance arrives.

Stolen Vehicle Location (SVL)
Safety Connect subscribers will be able to rely on an extra level of security in the event that their vehicle is stolen. If this should happen, Safety Connect will assist in tracking the location of the stolen vehicle using the vehicle's GPS. Once a police report has been filed and the owner contacts the Safety Connect call center to report the theft, call center agents will assist local authorities to help recover the vehicle-keeping the owner apprised of the progress.

Emergency Assistance Button (SOS)
All Safety Connect–enabled vehicles will come equipped with an SOS button, with the call center's 24-hour emergency assistance only a press away. When an emergency situation develops, subscribed customers will be able to quickly reach the Safety Connect response center to communicate their emergency. Again using embedded cellular and GPS technology, the agent will assess the situation and dispatch the necessary assistance based on the type of emergency.

Roadside Assistance
When a driver encounters problems on the road, the Safety Connect response center will be available for roadside assistance 24 hours a day via the SOS button. Call center agents will help drivers receive aid for a wide range of needs, such as towing, jump start, flat tire, fuel delivery, etc. With this service, drivers will not need to rely on additional membership organizations for roadside coverage to help them get back on the road.

All Safety Connect calls will be sent directly to Toyota's dedicated, specialized telematics response center operated by ATX Group, a leading provider of global automotive telematics services for over a decade. Drivers can rest even easier with the added level of confidence that comes with having this service as the backbone of Safety Connect's security offerings.

Lexus Enform: Pinnacle of Convenience
Lexus Enform takes Toyota's telematics services to a new level of care with a diverse assortment of offerings ranging from information and convenience capabilities to up-to-the-minute weather reports.
"We specifically steered away from a one-size-fits-all approach," explained Bucci, "recognizing that we have two distinct markets for telematics products and services and catering our offerings to each of our valued customer sets."

The cornerstones of Lexus Enform are two convenience-based services: Destination Assist and eDestination. With these features, Lexus vehicles can become a virtual information tool-giving drivers the ability to send and receive the data they choose and need along the way. Both services also rest on the solid foundation of Toyota's dedicated ATX call center.

Destination Assist
Live-operator assistance with finding destinations will be just the press of a button away with Destination Assist. While either parked or driving, the driver will be able to easily connect to an operator to ask for help finding local points of interest from dining to gas stations, dry cleaners to museums. As an added bonus to Lexus drivers, Zagat's best-in-breed restaurant content will also be available via Destination Assist.
Destination Assist operators will steer drivers to the nearest or preferred destination, giving them either the specific business or address requested or nearby choices if, for example, the call is for a specific type of cuisine but the driver does not know the exact restaurant they would like to visit. Once the driver tells the operator their choice, the destination is sent wirelessly to the vehicle's navigation system.

eDestination
An expedient self-service feature of Lexus Enform is eDestination, which will allow the user to go online, via the Lexus owners' Web site, to select and organize destinations of their choice and then send them wirelessly to their vehicle. From any computer, Lexus Enform-subscribed owners will be able to simply log in to their account and search for destinations by one of three options, point of interest (POI) name, category, or address, in Lexus' POI database-the same nationwide database in the vehicle's navigation system. By entering either a city and state or a Zip code with their search option, they will receive a numbered list of relevant choices all called out on a map screen. The user can then simply select the destination of their choice and send it to a folder-creating a new one or inserting it into one they have already built. When finished making selections and creating folders, the user simply selects "save to vehicle" and their personalized destinations will be available to load into the vehicle's navigation system upon the next start up. Going hand in hand with the quality our drivers have come to expect and rely upon in Lexus vehicles, Lexus Enform drivers will also have easy online access to Zagat-rated restaurants nationwide via eDestination.

eDestination will enable users to build their library of destinations in up to 20 customized folders with up to 10 destinations per folder. This will enable Lexus Enform subscribers to select and send an unprecedented total of 200 personalized destinations to their vehicle. The folder cache will always be present online for users to save or update as they see fit. For example, folders with the addresses of friends, family, or favorite local restaurants can be saved and maintained while new folders can be created for specific occasions-a vacation ("Road Trip to Boston") or business meetings ("LA Biz Travel")-and updated to meet current plans. Wherever Lexus drivers need to go, they will be able to plan trips easily and in advance, and even update from the road, with eDestination.

Flexible Voice Interface
Because Lexus Enform is a navigation-based system, vehicles equipped with navi will automatically include one of Lexus Enform's most functional-and sure to be favorite-systems, the updated voice recognition system currently only available on the MY10 Lexus RX vehicles. This new casual-speech voice recognition system, called voice command, features VoiceBox Technology's award-winning, patented Conversational Voice Search, and allows drivers to speak more flexible, conversational commands for easier access and control.

Voice command software enhances standard voice recognition and functions as a supplementary layer "on top" of the existing voice recognition system, an application not seen before in the automotive world. Without voice command, users must speak commands in a specific order, e.g., "Phone > Dial by Name > Dial Bob." Now this same task can be completed simply by saying, "Call Bob at home." The voice command system also works to control many functions of the audio system, heating and air conditioning, and the navigation system. Commands such as, "Make it cooler," "Let's find XM channel 46," "I want a Japanese restaurant," and "Where's the nearest gas station along my route?" make tasks easier to accomplish, in fewer steps, with more flexible speech, and allow the driver to focus more on the road ahead.

Mobile Audio Casts with Lexus Insider
One thing we know about Lexus drivers is that they appreciate up-to-the-minute information about the world around them. With Lexus Insider, a complimentary service on all Lexus Enform navigation-equipped vehicles, customers will be able to listen to audio broadcasts in their vehicles with the push of a button. A first in the industry, brief
"hot topic" audio programmes, hand selected for our customers, will be sent regularly to vehicles and made available to drivers to enjoy whenever they see fit. Customers who would prefer not to receive Lexus Insider broadcasts will be able to easily opt out of the service. Those customers who do elect to receive them will be able to select whether or not to receive automatic notifications when news is available.

Topics will include vehicle technology insights, with tips on their specific model of Lexus vehicle and its capabilities; updates on Lexus-exclusive regional events; and selections from Lexus magazine lifestyle articles. Additionally, customers will also receive Insider insights into exclusive destinations appealing to Lexus drivers. Lexus drivers alone will benefit from the added convenience of having these broadcast transmissions also include the destination's information provided as a downloadable POI, enabling them to easily save the spot to their navigation.

Because broadcast data transmission to automobiles is necessarily complicated by the unpredictable nature of when, and for how long, vehicles will be powered on, Lexus Insider makes use of innovative technology to optimize delivery. Thus equipped, Lexus Enform vehicles can successfully receive audio casts in spite of disruptions to transmissions-helping to ensure that listeners receive Lexus Insider stories seamlessly and without complications.

XM – Beyond Radio
Lexus Enform vehicles will be factory ready for subscriptions to a variety of innovative XM services. Standard equipment on Lexus vehicles will include available XM satellite radio programming and its available "Best of SIRIUS" content. Additionally, Lexus Enform vehicles will also feature XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeatherTM services. These XM services will offer three-month trials, after which subscriptions will be required. XM NavTraffic informs the driver of current traffic conditions with real-time traffic displays. When traffic problems are detected, in order to avoid them the navigation system alerts the driver so that the route can be adjusted. XM NavWeather will provide near real-time weather conditions as well as spoken and nav-screen forecasts, both based on official National Weather Service data. Lexus Enform will also provide the platform for XM® Sports and Stocks, a service included with audio programming, which provides in-car personalized updates on customer-selected sports and stocks so drivers can stay connected to their favorite teams and investment data while on the road. Additionally, Lexus Enform's advanced voice command system will be equipped to operate many functions of all XM services, adding a new level of flexibility.

Availability
Safety Connect and Lexus Enform will be delivered on select models beginning in late summer 2009 as embedded, factory-installed hardware that can be activated upon subscription at dealerships. An included one-year trial subscription will be offered for new vehicle purchases. More details on product roll-out will be announced closer to launch.

[via Toyota]

OnStar also had specially trained operators, equipped with evacuation plan data, on duty to take storm-related calls, totaling about 75,000 on Sunday, roughly double the normal volume. If you were one of them, we hope you called early: By the end of the day, advisors were routing customers to hotels in Indiana and Kentucky. We're curious to see whether any subscribers will change to Priceline's new OnStar service. We hear they're claiming they can negotiate better to find them a room closer to Louisiana.

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: We love OnStar — GM's perennial positive story. Sure, you may not always get the exact right answer every time you push the blue button, but hey, it's a better concierge service than what you get at most four-star hotels. And we'd certainly rather hear about how OnStar's helping out during a crisis than hearing more about how ten Hummer owners are helping evacuate dogs or something from afflicted areas.

[Detroit News; Financial Times (Sub. Req.)]

GM and OnStar Lead the Way with New Navigation Services

Dallas - OnStar today announced the introduction of two new navigational services to complement and enhance its existing Turn-by-Turn service, the most widely available navigation system on the market. These features solidify GM's leadership in navigation with more vehicles on the road with embedded navigation systems and more options than any other automaker.

The first new service is OnStar Destination Download, which enables OnStar subscribers with screen-based navigation systems to quickly input their destination while on the go via the simple press of a button. The second service, OnStar eNav, allows subscribers with a Turn-by-Turn Navigation-capable vehicle to find and save destinations on MapQuest.com and have those destinations sent to their vehicle's OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation system.

"Through OnStar and onboard navigation systems, GM is transforming the category with the broadest range of options to suit customer preferences," said OnStar President Chet Huber. "With 3.1 million model year 2008 vehicles equipped with some form of factory-installed navigation, GM is delivering on our commitment to redefine the availability and functionality of navigation systems in the United States and Canada."

To initiate OnStar Destination Download, users simply press the OnStar blue button to connect with an advisor. Once subscribers provide the advisor with their destination, the destination is downloaded to their navigation screen within seconds. Press the "Go" button on the navigation system to begin the route.

Typically to use a screen-based navigation system, drivers have to bring their vehicle to a stop and place it in park. With OnStar Destination Download, subscribers can have the address of their destination sent directly to their navigation system while still driving, providing a safe, easy and immediate solution.

In addition, OnStar brings more than 10 million point-of-interest records, refreshed every month, to the navigation system. This supplements and greatly enhances the point-of-interest data loaded on navigation DVDs.

OnStar Destination Download will be available on over 80 percent of GM's screen-based navigation vehicle volume or 325,000 Model Year 2009 vehicles. In total, 22 different GM vehicle models will offer this new service.

OnStar's second new service offering, OnStar eNav, allows subscribers to plan their travel destinations on the MapQuest site (www.mapquest.com) and then send those destinations to their OnStar system. When ready to retrieve those directions, subscribers simply press their vehicle's OnStar phone button to access voice-guided commands through which they can select their route. Turn-by-Turn navigation will then launch to guide them on their way.

"At MapQuest we strive to provide our users with easy-to-use features that will save them time and ensure that they find their destination," said Christian Dwyer, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MapQuest. "OnStar eNav is a great addition to our suite of 'Send To' capabilities offering users the convenience of researching and planning online and sending results to a user's preferred device or system."

OnStar eNav will be available retroactively on 2.7 million current Turn-by-Turn capable GM vehicles. Later this year eNav will also combine with OnStar Destination Download to download destinations directly to the vehicle's screen-based navigation system.

OnStar and MapQuest conducted a pilot of eNav beginning in June 2007 with approximately 3,000 customers. A survey of pilot participants showed that 95 percent of them would use eNav at least monthly and 93 percent of the participants agreed that eNav should be offered by OnStar.

"From the pilot we learned that many of our subscribers like to pre-plan their trips, especially when visiting new areas," said Huber. "They appreciated the simplicity of eNav and used it to plan thousands of routes."

Also available to subscribers with screen-based navigation systems is XM NavTraffic, XM's real-time traffic information service is now available in 80 major North American markets. This service feeds comprehensive road condition data such as accidents, traffic backups and road construction to the subscriber's navigation screen. The availability of XM NavTraffic will greatly expand in model year 2009 to the same 22 GM vehicles equipped with screen-based navigation that also feature OnStar Destination Download. XM NavTraffic made its GM debut on the 2005 Cadillac CTS.

Where available, XM NavTraffic subscribers can view a color-coded overlay on their navigation screen indicating the average speed of travel along their planned route.

"GM and OnStar are demonstrating their commitment to providing their drivers with the best in technology, with this impressive expansion of XM NavTraffic across 22 vehicles in the 2009 model year," said Steve Cook, executive vice president, automotive, XM Satellite Radio. "XM NavTraffic provides the most comprehensive information and coast-to-coast updates every minute, ensuring that GM drivers will always have the latest and most detailed information at his or her fingertips. "

"Our varied connected navigation options mean something for everyone whether you drive a Cadillac CTS or a Chevrolet Cobalt," Huber said. "As the leader in navigation our continual goal is to provide GM drivers with useful and convenient services that make the driving experience simpler, safer and more secure."

[Source: GM]

SmartAlert works with good old fashioned GPS technology. It locates vehicles on the fly and sends the coordinates to the proper authorities. SmartAlert will include more options than just tracking. This service will allow users to unlock their doors remotely through a call-in service or online (OnStar! Take heed!) and it will also track speed of vehicles for parents who are being a bit to overprotective of their little hooners. The initial fee and first year of service will be somewhere between $700 and $1,200, requiring an annual service fee thereafter. [Auto News (sub. req.)]

You may have heard about the analog network shutdown that is happening on February 19, 2008. Basically, because of the lack of use of the analog network, the FCC is shutting it down and selling it to the highest bidder. Two of the big boys using the analog network is older cellular technology and old cable television technology.

Most cellphones no longer support analog at all, and the ones that do also support digital networks by being dual-band, so they are still functional. Cable operators will be providing adapters for those TVs that still rock analog signals. Onstar, on the other hand, is out of luck because the integrated systems aren't so easy to convert over to digital.

It's not just with OnStar either. Mercedes-Benz's TeleAid, Toyota's older Lexus Link systems are out of luck as well as some burglary alarms that communicate with a command center will no longer work. Best advice is if you have an older system that is capable of communicating elsewhere, check to see if it runs on the analog or digital networks. [Gizmodo]

In a Q&A over at the GM FYI Blog, the lack-of-Bluetooth shenanigans were kicked to the curb. Phil Colley of GM Performance Parts was quoted saying:

...and we (General Motors) will offer the broadest rollout of Bluetooth in the industry by making it available on more than 30 models across all eight North American brands by the 2009 model year.

Well I'll be damn skippy. Now I can talk to ma through my cellulartelaphoney without having to endanger myself, others on the road or let OnStar tear my wallet a new one—oops! Thanks GM! [GM FYI Blog]

GM, SAIC and OnStar Announce China Telematics JV Will Provide In-Vehicle Safety, Security and Communication Services

Shanghai - General Motors, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group (SAIC) and OnStar announced today the establishment of a telematics joint venture called Shanghai OnStar Telematics Company Limited. This is OnStar's first venture outside of North America in its 11-year history.

The Shanghai-based joint venture will provide a range of OnStar's trademark in-vehicle safety, security and communication services similar to those currently available in the United States and Canada, including advanced automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote door unlock, hands-free calling, vehicle diagnostics and turn-by-turn navigation.

Shanghai OnStar Telematics expects to begin rolling out its services in 2009, initially for vehicles manufactured and distributed in China by Shanghai GM.

"We are pleased to bring OnStar to Asia for the first time through Shanghai OnStar Telematics," said OnStar President Chet Huber. "China represents a huge opportunity to bring the safety, security, and societal benefits of OnStar to a whole new audience - Shanghai GM customers. This new venture builds upon our leading position in North America and the lessons from our more than 83 million customer interactions. In China, we will provide cutting-edge services specifically developed in accordance with the needs of Shanghai GM and its customers."

OnStar, a subsidiary of General Motors, and Shanghai Automotive Industry Sales Co. Ltd. (SAISC) , a subsidiary of SAIC, each own 40 percent of Shanghai OnStar Telematics. Shanghai GM, a 50-50 joint venture of GM and SAIC, owns the remaining 20 percent. The partners signed an official joint venture agreement during the Shanghai visit of GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner on Oct. 27.

"Over the past decade, GM and SAIC have established eight joint ventures that are engaged in vehicle and powertrain manufacturing, sales and service, automotive engineering and design, automotive financing, and now telematics," said GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale. "The launch of our new joint venture represents a significant technological step forward in our partnership."

"Like our other joint ventures, Shanghai OnStar Telematics will contribute to the ongoing development of China's automotive industry," said SAIC Vice Chairman Chen Hong. "Our goal is to work with our partners to make our newest joint venture the preeminent provider throughout China of world-class, innovative telematics services."

Press Release:

GM-Onstar ANT
Much like the self-regulating traffic system found in nature's best commuter, the ant, OnStar enabled vehicle-to-vehicle communication and ubiquitously embedded intelligence allow GM's ANT to act independently yet communicate with other vehicles to optimize traffic flow. Quantum computing power also allows each ANT to virtually recreate a highly personalized space for any occasion or personal need.

Omni-directional propulsion, provided by three independent Nanorb wheel systems, operate as independent robots and can arrange themselves in different configurations, turning virtually anything into a mobile device. Layered, environmentally friendly, single-walled, carbon-polymer nanocomposites form the flat surface panels, which incorporate the carbon nanotube battery.

All body panels are connected with electro-active polymer actuators (a.k.a. artificial muscles), allowing the easy and silent reconfiguration of body panels, depending on their optimal street use.

General Motors Advanced Design, California Design Team:
Frank Saucedo
Steve Anderson
Jussi Timonen
Jose Paris
Lorne Kulesus
Tony Liu
Jay Bernard
Phil Tanioka

GM and OnStar Create Technology to Help Save Lives: New capability to assist OnStar subscribers and public safety officials in stolen vehicle cases

WASHINGTON D.C. (October 9, 2007) - General Motors (GM) and OnStar demonstrated today a prototype technology that can help OnStar further assist in the safe recovery of subscribers' stolen vehicles and reduce fatalities and injuries resulting from police chases. This new technology, known as Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, is the latest enhancement to OnStar's stolen vehicle service and can allow OnStar advisors working with law enforcement to send a signal to a subscriber's stolen vehicle to reduce engine power slowing the vehicle down gradually.

"From its inception, the motivation behind OnStar has been the safety and security of our subscribers and others on the road," said Chet Huber, OnStar president. "Every service we add builds on this original promise. The Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service will allow our subscribers added peace of mind by possibly preventing their vehicle from being used as an instrument of harm if it happens to be stolen."

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, about 30,000 police chases occur yearly and approximately 300 deaths occur as a result of those chases.

"Technology should not just entertain us or make us more comfortable, it should make us safer," said Nicole R. Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "We applaud innovations such as the kind GM is embracing that will make our roads better, our passengers more protected and our drivers safer."

"We look forward to having technologies like Stolen Vehicle Slowdown available to aid our officers in apprehending suspected car thieves and keeping our officers, highways and citizens safe," said David Hiller, national vice president, Fraternal Order of Police. "Since 1996, OnStar has assisted the law enforcement community by helping to locate stolen vehicles."

Powered by OnStar's newest generation of hardware (Generation 8), GM will make Stolen Vehicle Slowdown available on nearly 1.7 million Model Year (MY) 2009 vehicles. GM's largest division, Chevrolet, will be leading the way, making up for more than 60 percent of the total vehicles equipped with this new technology.

"Chevrolet aims to provide customers with more than they expect, and services like Stolen Vehicle Slowdown continue to add even more value to Chevy cars and trucks," said Ed Peper, general manager, Chevrolet. "Stolen Vehicle Slowdown will not only benefit GM and Chevy customers, but virtually everyone on the road."

Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is an enhancement to OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which the company has offered to its subscribers since 1996. Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance uses Global Positioning Satellite technology to pinpoint the location of a vehicle that has been reported stolen. OnStar provides the location to law enforcement to assist with the vehicle's recovery. OnStar receives approximately 700 Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance requests from subscribers a month. The company has helped in 28,000 requests over the past decade.

"The IAFC sees this technology as an opportunity to improve the likelihood of a positive outcome for all involved in such dangerous road situations," said Chief Steven P. Westermann, President, International Association of Fire Chiefs. "On behalf of all firefighters, we appreciate the research and commitment of General Motors to tackle these issues and come up with a safe solution."

The process for Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is:

· Once the vehicle has been reported stolen to law enforcement, the subscriber can call OnStar and request Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance. OnStar will confirm the subscriber has not opted out of the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service.

· OnStar will use real-time GPS technology to attempt to pinpoint the exact location of the stolen vehicle and provide this information to law enforcement to help them recover the vehicle.

· When law enforcement has established a clear line of sight of the stolen vehicle, law enforcement may request OnStar to slow it down remotely.

· Safeguards will be in place to ensure that the correct vehicle is slowed down.

· OnStar then sends a remote signal to the vehicle that interacts with the Powertrain system to reduce engine power which will slow the vehicle down gradually.

Research has shown that 95 percent of OnStar subscribers want the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service available on their cars and trucks. OnStar subscribers have the choice to opt-out of the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service at any time by contacting OnStar if they prefer not to have this capability on their vehicle. This will not affect the rest of their OnStar services.

OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a GM-exclusive feature in the U.S. and Canada and will be included in the one year OnStar subscription that customers receive when purchasing an eligible MY 2009 OnStar-equipped vehicle. OnStar's suite of services also includes Advanced Automatic Crash Notification, Emergency Services, Remote Door Unlock, Roadside Assistance, Crisis Assist, OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Hands Free Calling and OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics. For more information regarding OnStar's services, please visit www.onstar.com.

About GM

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and communication services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

About OnStar by GM

OnStar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services. OnStar is available on more than 50 MY 2008 GM models and includes one year of service. One year of OnStar will become standard on nearly all GM retail vehicles in the United States and Canada by the end of 2007. OnStar provides services to more than 5 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is one of America's most well-known and successful automotive brands. With the largest dealer network in the United States, Chevy is the leader in full-size trucks and the leader in sales of vehicles priced $35,000 and above. In addition, Chevrolet delivers more-than-expected value in every vehicle category, offering cars and trucks priced from $9,995 to $52,000. Chevy has more vehicles than any other manufacturer that provide more than 30 mpg. Offering dynamic yet timeless designs, Chevy owners demand great looks that don't go out of style, high performance per dollar, and features expected in more expensive vehicles. Chevrolet's global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. For more information, go to www.chevy.com.

About the Fraternal Order of Police

The Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 324,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges. They are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. They are committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation.

About the International Association of Fire Chiefs

Established in 1873, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) represents the leadership of over 1.2 million firefighters internationally. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in fire fighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search & rescue, and public safety legislation.

# # #

OnStar Expands its Navigation Service with MapQuest Partnership
New OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation Enhancement to Allow Subscribers to Send Destinations from MapQuest.com to Millions of GM Vehicles

DETROIT and DENVER (April 25, 2007) - GM's OnStar and MapQuest announced today a collaboration that will allow OnStar subscribers to plan their driving route on MapQuest.com and send their destination right to OnStar's easy to use Turn-by-Turn Navigation service. This new Turn-by-Turn service enhancement, OnStar Web Destination Entry, will allow subscribers to conveniently use MapQuest.com to research and plan their driving destinations with more than 15 million points-of-interest available through the number one mapping Web site.

General Motors and OnStar, the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services, are making the simplest and smartest navigation service, OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, available to more than 2 million vehicles in 2007 and an additional 3 million vehicles in 2008. This availability allows GM to offer the most navigation options across more vehicle segments and price ranges than any other vehicle manufacturer. MapQuest is the leading online mapping and directions destination and one of the most trusted and widely used brands on the Web. 1

"Our 10 years of experience have taught us that life happens when you're driving," said OnStar President Chet Huber. "The value of OnStar Web Destination Entry, which combines the powerfully-simple technology of OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation with the leading consumer Web site for maps and directions, MapQuest , is added flexibility for our subscribers. The new service enhancement will allow them to use the Web to plan their destination while having the freedom to start the journey from wherever they want."

OnStar and MapQuest will start a Web Destination Entry pilot program in the summer of 2007 with a select group of OnStar subscribers. Targeted for late 2007, OnStar Web Destination Entry will be available to all OnStar subscribers with Turn-by-Turn Navigation-capable vehicles.

"One of our goals at MapQuest is to make it convenient and easy for our users to plan their journey on their desktop computers and send the information to their cars. We are thrilled to be working with the world's largest auto manufacturer to bring our great services to OnStar customers," said Jim Greiner, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MapQuest. "This represents another example of how we are extending our ability to help consumers access MapQuest services whenever and wherever they need them."

OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, a GM exclusive, was first introduced in February 2006 on the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS. It is available as a part of OnStar's complete suite of safety, security and communication services. OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation is included in the first year of service on all 2007 Buicks and nearly all 2007 Cadillacs and a number of other 2007 GM vehicles. Additionally, it is available for a $100 service plan upgrade on many other 2007 GM cars and trucks during the first year of service.

About GM
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

About OnStar by GM
OnStar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services. OnStar is available on more than 50 MY 2007 GM models and includes one year of service. OnStar will become standard on nearly all GM retail vehicles in the United States and Canada by the end of 2007. OnStar provides services to more than 4.5 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. More information about OnStar can be found at HYPERLINK "http://www.onstar.com" www.onstar.com.

About MapQuest
MapQuest offers Internet, wireless and business solutions that help people find places. MapQuest is one of the most recognized and trusted brands on the Internet and is the leading consumer Web site for maps and directions, serving more than 49 million users in March, 2007, according to comScore Media Metrix. MapQuest, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC, is based in Denver, Colorado.

About AOL
AOL is a global Web services company that operates some of the most popular Web destinations, offers a comprehensive suite of free software and services, runs the country's largest Internet access business, and provides a full set of advertising solutions. A majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., AOL LLC is based in Dulles, Virginia. AOL and its subsidiaries also have operations in Europe, Canada and Asia. Learn more at AOL.com.

1 comScore Media Metrix, March, 2007

# # #

Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape ~Feat Akon~ [YouTube]

Related:
All of our 2007 Detroit Auto Show coverage [internal]

Sounds like a nice way to spend an evening, dunnit? Sittin' 'round, showin' your girl your new 'Slade, tootin' a few lines off the center console, coppin' a feel or three and then you think, "Hey, why don't I show her how OnStar works? But in your booger-sugar-addled brain, you mess up the volume settings, leading the operator to summon the po-po, who, when they arrive, find your nose candy, shuttle you off to jail and seize your brand new Cadillac. Balls to you, daddy. She ain't never comin' back. [Thanks to Felix for the tip.]

Fla. Man Showing Off His OnStar Arrested [ABC News]

Related:

At the Chicago auto show this week, GM plans to introduce the latest version of its OnStar telematics system, which will darn socks, provide legal advice, offer tips on racehorses, stain furniture, make scrambled eggs, feed the cat, fold newspaper hats, recount life in Brooklyn during the Great Depression, clean the garage, bowl a strike, mail a letter and argue in favor of the Aether Model of the Universe. Would that it did. It will, however, include a "turn-by-turn" navigation system using automated voice prompts. The system will be available starting mid-year on 2006 Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS and Cadillac STS models, with other GM vehicles being phased in over the next two years.

Related:
The System is Down: OnStar to E-Mail Drivers of Troubled Cars [internal]

Remember the days before the check engine light? When a well-tuned ear and throttle foot told you all you needed to know about what was wrong with your car? Remember the first time your check engine light came on and you freaked out, figuring the whole thing was about to blow up if you didn't Stop. Right. Then? Well, the geniuses at OnStar have now taken all of this e-mumbo-jumbo to the next level. If your OnStar-equipped GM car's systems detect a fault, your car will send you an electronic message letting you know you've got a problem if say, your oxygen sensor just quit the team. We think this is kind of creepy. We're changing our name to Winston Smith.

Cars will e-mail when they need service [Detroit Free Press]

Related:
Attack of the Trunk Monkey [Internal]