Skip to main content

Chevy Volts’ OnStar Getting Google Boost

Vehicle location services provider OnStar—part of the greater General Motors family—is planning to let Chevrolet Volt owners leverage a little bit of Google’s mapping power: the company is planning to update its Chevrolet Volt application for Android so Volt owners will be able to see the current location of their Volt pinpointed using OnStar technology and Google Maps. The functionality should certainly make it easier to find where you parked in one of those confusingly huge mall or airport lots…and it may also make it easier to keep track of where one’s child, spouse, or best friend is taking the car “just for a quick errand, honest!”

OnStar plans to demonstrate the new functionality at the Google I/O conference this week in San Francisco. Another few feature of the Android/OnStar integration will be the ability to select a driving destination from an Android phone, and have OnStar Turn-by-Turn directions all set up and ready to go by the time owners return to their vehicle. And if seeing their Volt pinpointed on a map isn’t enough, users will be able to get voice directions to their vehicles.

“While OnStar will never lose sight of our core focus on safety and security, this relationship [with Google] is an example of how we’re evolving our leadership position in connected vehicle technology,” said OnStar president Chris Preuss, in a statement.

The Android smartphone application for the Chevy Volt is schedule to become available when the Volt itself goes on sale to consumers “this fall.” Other features of the application will includes the ability to display vehicle information like mileage (including electric-only miles), battery charge level , total range available, odometer readings, and vehicle charge status.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Chevy vehicles will soon be able to anticipate repairs with advanced prognostic alerts
chevrolet proactive service alerts pictures news onstar advanced vehicle diagnostics feature

Chevrolet is all about solving problems before they happen. At the 2015 Powered by Innovation event in Detroit, the automaker announced a new Theft Alarm Notification feature to help prevent break-ins, and now, the manufacturer wants to notify drivers of maintenance issues before they leave you stranded.

Called Proactive Alerts, the prognostic and diagnostic function aims to predict when particular components will need repair or replacement, allowing the driver to curb potential service issues before the vehicle is affected. The system relies on OnStar 4G LTE connections to provide data streams from the various sensors throughout the car, which are then sent to a server that uses an algorithm to asses the particular function’s heath. If service is deemed necessary, the driver is notified via email, text message, in-vehicle alerts, or through the OnStar RemoteLink smartphone application.

Read more
Chevrolet adding Theft Alarm Notification to its OnStar subscription service
OnStar Theft Alarm Notification

At the 2015 Powered by Innovation event in Detroit, Chevrolet debuted two new vehicles — the all-new Cruze and the 2016 Camaro convertible — but that’s not all the manufacturer had in store. The bowtie brand has announced a new feature that could help you prevent vehicle theft while you’re away.

As part of the OnStar subscription service, Theft Alarm Notification allows drivers to stay in contact with their vehicle at all times via their smartphone. If their car’s alarm system is triggered, they are notified via text, email, or call, and can alert the authorities as necessary. Currently, OnStar offers Remote Ignition Block and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, and the new theft alert feature is designed to work hand-in-hand with those functions.

Read more
Chevy’s restyled, re-engineered Volt gets a lower price tag to attract new buyers
2016 Chevrolet Volt

Electric vehicles are not a novelty anymore, and hybrid technology has been adopted in nearly every vehicle segment. So where does the Chevy Volt and its once-novel twin-motor drivetrain fit in?

Since its inception, the Volt has attempted to bridge the gap between the benefits of an electric vehicle (fuel savings) with the benefits of a petrol engine (range security). Has it worked? In concept, yes, but when it comes to sales, the Volt has struggled to meet expectations.

Read more