GM uses OnStar 4G LTE – not a crystal ball – to predict breakdowns before they happen

By Nick Jaynes January 4, 2015

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If you’ve been as unlucky as I have over my many years of car ownership, you’ve been left stranded by a dead battery, faulty starter motor, or lame fuel pump … or some horrible combination of all three.

Now, though, those days are over – at least for 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, Tahoe, Suburban, Corvette, Silverado, and Silverado HD owners. That’s because General Motors is now using its onboard OnStar 4G LTE connections on those aforementioned models to predict vehicle component failure before they happen, saving drivers from the stress of a breakdown and a tow to the dealer.

How does it work? Good question, Stuart. Here’s how GM describes the system: “Data is sent to OnStar’s secure servers and proprietary algorithms are applied to assess whether certain conditions could impact vehicle performance. When indicated, notifications are sent to the customer via email, text message, in-vehicle alerts or through the OnStar RemoteLink smartphone app.”

Essentially, this means GM has figured out what symptoms various components demonstrate before they fail and has its servers watching out for them. When they’re detected, you’re notified before the battery, starter, or fuel pump kick the bucket.

Though the system will only work on those three components and on those specific vehicles at first, GM will be rolling the prognostic capabilities into its full 2016 line throughout the year.

Now if only the system could also predict the outcomes of NFL games and the vehicles might pay for themselves — I mean, gambling is wrong … yeah, that’s the ticket.

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Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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That being the case, you can just about expect a lot more high-tech car features to roll out of General Motors over the next few years.

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You knew it was coming: GM considers allowing ads on 4G-capable in-car systems

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General Motors looks like it might be one of the first to try and cash in on the idea.
GM CEO Dan Akerson said the partnership with AT&T to add 4G connectivity by 2015 for streaming videos to back -seat passengers could include a couple of revenue generating opportunities, reports Left Lane News.
The automotive industry site reports that Akerson said GM will collect a $20 fee from AT& T for every connected vehicle it sells and the carmaker will also split the revenue generated from shared services.
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Then again, it shouldn’t come as a surprise considering how ads for everything from insurance to soft drinks now permeate just about every digital device we own in some form or fashion.
However, the idea of a Pepsi ad popping up in the back-seat of your Buick Enclave does present an interesting dynamic for drivers and passengers alike who often feel that they are already bombarded with too much advertising.
What do you think – should carmakers like GM allow companies to stream ads into vehicles?
Photo Credit: Left Lane News

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