Customer Demand Prompts GM Decision

"In response to the growing importance consumers place on safety and security features, GM is increasing OnStar's availability," said Gary Cowger, president of General Motors North America. "More and more consumers are telling us that air bag notification, emergency assistance, remote door unlock, stolen vehicle location assistance and remote vehicle diagnostics are key to their purchase decisions, and GM is the only automotive company offering a full range of vehicles providing continuous safety protection before, during and after vehicle collisions."

OnStar is factory-installed and currently available on more than 50 GM models - ranging from small sedans starting with an MSRP around $16,000 through crossovers, light trucks and SUVs, and luxury sedans.

"Our research has shown that safety and security aspects represent one of the most important factors in the consumers' new vehicle buying process and in using wireless applications in the vehicle," said Thilo Koslowski, Lead Automotive Analyst at Gartner, Inc. "Leveraging vehicle-enabled information and communication services to improve post-crash safety improves the market appeal of an automobile manufacturer's products."

Since its inception in 1996, OnStar has enhanced vehicle safety and helped save the lives of motorists by facilitating emergency response when the vehicle's occupants are incapable.
Each month, OnStar receives more than 700 air bag notifications from subscribers like Michelle Creager of Fort Wayne, Ind., whose Pontiac Montana minivan hit a slick spot on a two-lane highway, plunged down an embankment slamming into a tree and landing in a ditch filled with water.

"When our minivan slid off the highway, my cell phone was thrown from the car. I drifted in and out of consciousness and out of nowhere, there was a voice and she said help was on the way," said Creager. "The advisor heard my son's cry for help and she knew exactly where we were and what kind of help to send."

Each month, OnStar receives about 11,000 emergency assistance calls, which include 4,000 Good Samaritan calls for a variety of emergency situations. In addition, each month OnStar advisors respond to about 600 stolen vehicle location requests, 19,000 requests for roadside assistance, 35,000 remote door unlock requests and 18,000 GM Goodwrench remote diagnostics requests.

"We're proud of the positive impact OnStar has had with GM vehicle owners, and look forward to the tremendous growth that will occur as a result of today's announcement," said Chet Huber, president of GM's OnStar subsidiary. "With over 50 million interactions with our subscribers to date, we've learned that our safety, security and peace of mind services are highly valued and make a difference in the customer's purchase decision."

OnStar has also extended its services into collaborations with critical community-based organizations such as the American Red Cross and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. These outreach services include on-site support for hurricane victims and relief workers, and encourage subscribers to be Good Samaritans in emergency situations to help in locating missing and abducted children.

About GM: General Motors (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM employs about 350,000 people around the world. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

About OnStar: OnStar, available on more than 50 models from General Motors, is the nation's leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technologies. OnStar services include automatic notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle location assistance, emergency services, roadside assistance with location, remote door unlock, GM Goodwrench remote vehicle diagnostics, route support and convenience services. OnStar Personal Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls through a nationwide cellular network and access a wide range of other information services. Additional information is available at www.OnStar.com.