Simple, safe, affordable navigation offered to the masses
For
millions of General Motors new vehicle owners, 2006 may
be remembered as the last year they ever got lost driving
their car, thanks to the first factory-installed, fully-integrated
GPS navigation system from OnStar by GM.
The new service, called OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation,
allows consumers to talk to a live advisor, who in turn
sends complete step-by-step directions to customers' vehicles
through their OnStar system. Audio directions are then automatically
played through the vehicle's stereo as they are needed,
triggered by the OnStar system's GPS capabilities. This
will allow drivers to be led to their destination while
keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
To be introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, OnStar Turn-by-Turn
Navigation is the latest in a series of industry-first innovations
from GM, and is the highlight of OnStar's latest generation
of in-vehicle hardware, its 7th version in just ten years.
The service will initially debut on the 2006 Buick Lucerne
and Cadillac DTS in March and the Cadillac STS in Q2 as
part of their standard OnStar package. It will be available
in approximately 1 million GM cars and trucks in Model Year
2007 and will be expanded further within the portfolio in
2008.
"GM introduced the first OnStar-equipped vehicle at
the Chicago Auto Show ten years ago," said General
Motors Chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner. "Since then,
products and competitors have come and gone, but GM and
OnStar have never wavered. Today, OnStar has created a comprehensive
system that delivers safety, security, and peace of mind
for millions of subscribers. OnStar helps set GM cars and
trucks apart, and with the launch of services like OnStar
Vehicle Diagnostics and now OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation,
OnStar continues to lead and define the in-vehicle telematics
space."
"Today's announcement shows that we're driven to write
the next chapters of this story," said OnStar President
Chet Huber. "The keys to our progress and growth have
been to focus on services that matter to real customers,
not just early adopters, and to make them very easy to understand
and use. With OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, we're demystifying
navigation technology to bring safe, simple GPS-based routing
to the mass market at a fraction of the cost of other competitive
alternatives," said Huber.
The new OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation system advantages
include:
Safe, Simple Interactions:
Hands on the Wheel, Eyes on the Road: No data entry
or touch screen to distract drivers from the road; OnStar
Turn-by-Turn Navigation features convenient voice-guided
directions delivered through the radio speakers to guide
the driver turn-by-turn to the destination.
Easy to Use: Press the OnStar blue button, give the
advisor an address or point-of-interest destination and
directions are sent to the vehicle.
Advisor Access: OnStar advisors are available 24-hours
a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
Smart, Intuitive System:
Route Corrections: OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation
detects when the driver leaves a planned route and automatically
offers updated directions to the destination.
Pinpoint Positioning: The enhanced GPS system utilized
by OnStar's Turn-by-Turn Navigation, is fully integrated
with the vehicle's ABS module to deliver a more precise
positioning solution.
Accessible and Affordable Navigation:
Available in approximately 1 million GM cars and trucks
equipped with GM's anti-lock brake system in Model Year
2007 and will be expanded further within the portfolio in
2008.
Available at a fraction of the cost of other competitive
navigation products.
Access to OnStar Services:
Unlike single-function navigation systems, OnStar Turn-by-Turn
Navigation comes in addition to OnStar's suite of safety,
security and peace of mind services.
OnStar services, including Turn-by-Turn Navigation, offer
advisor and system interaction in English, Spanish and French.
OnStar
also offers Remote Vehicle Diagnostics
About
OnStar
OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is
the nation's leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security
and communication services using wireless technology and
the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network. OnStar
is available on more than 50 GM models for 2005. By the
end of 2007, OnStar will be a standard feature for GM's
retail customers in the United States and Canada, covering
all segments and prices except for some commercial vehicles.
OnStar safety and security services include automatic notification
of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle location assistance,
emergency services, roadside assistance, remote door unlock,
and GM Goodwrench remote vehicle diagnostics. OnStar Personal
Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated
calls from their vehicle. More information about OnStar
can be found at www.onstar.com.
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