Skip to main content

Verizon Vehicle promises to turn almost any car into a smart one

Diagnostic information, roadside assistance, live support — These are the luxuries of connected automobile services like General Motors’ OnStar, but all have an obvious drawback: compatibility only with the very latest models from their respective manufacturers. Owners of older cars have so far been out of luck, but not for long if Verizon Vehicle, the new aftermarket service from Verizon Wireless that aims to turn any car into a smart car, works as advertised.

Verizon’s first foray into the telematics business takes the form of a pluggable module for your car. Unveiled Tuesday at the Detroit Auto Show, it slots into the OBD-II port found on virtually every vehicle built after 1996, and provides local wireless in the form of Bluetooth and GPS. Among the capabilities it boasts are diagnoses and early warnings of potential mechanical issues, maintenance reminders, and parking tools to keep track of meter location and time — all thanks to that one little ODB port.

Recommended Videos

Cellular connectivity and installation of an unobtrusive, visor-level speaker let the service go further. It can connect to Roadside Assistance, for instance, or the A.S.E. Certified Mechanics hotline. Additionally, in the event of a suspected accident, it’ll automatically dial support staff and dispatch EMS.

If any of this sounds familiar, that’s because GM debuted its own aftermarket hardware and subscription, OnStar FMV, to much fanfare in 2011. An intelligent rearview mirror, it retails for $100 and offers comparable functions. Its subscription tiers, however, are significantly more expensive than the competition — basic service starts $19 a month, compared to a flat $15 a month with Verizon Vehicle (plus $13 a month per additional car).

Related: OnStar’s AtYourService to offer retail deals, hotel booking from the driver’s seat

Verizon’s chasing more than car makers with its initiative, though. AT&T, arguably the wireless carrier’s largest domestic competitor, has chosen to work directly with automobile manufacturers to offer cellular service in future cars. On Monday, it announced a partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc., Chevrolet, and Audi. Verizon Vehicle sidesteps manufacturers entirely with a direct-to-consumer approach, the wisdom of which remains to be seen.

Verizon Vehicle will go on sale in early April. The service, now available for pre-order, requires a two-year contract. For the time being, Verizon’s also bundling “substantial discounts” on vehicle rentals, hotels, auto maintenance, and more with purchase.

Kyle Wiggers
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV
toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

Read more
Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Read more
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more