Tag Archives: telematics

GM OnStar – the Connected Car Beginnings?

Posted on 11 May 2016 by Ken Zino

There are more than 7 million OnStar subscribers in North America, Europe, China and South America. Continue reading →

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Telematics Enable Usage Based Insurance and Privacy Risks

Posted on 12 March 2015 by Ken Zino

A Celant report on insurance developments also includes results of a survey on how receptive customers would be to real time feedback on their driving. How would you like to receive this message while driving: Your current driving style suggests that you have a one in three chance of having a fatal or very serious accident during the next year. Continue reading →

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Telematics are ‘Driving’ Growth in Usage Based Insurance

Posted on 9 July 2014 by Ken Zino

So called OBD-II based telematics – aka onboard diagnostics – are rudimentary and controversial but they have the potential to reshape the auto insurance market to reward good or infrequent low-risk drivers while charging other, more risk exposed users to higher fees Continue reading →

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Toyota Hires Microsoft Exec as Technology Officer

Posted on 9 September 2013 by Ken Zino

In keeping with the expansion of electronics in automobiles, Toyota Motor Sales in the U.S. has hired Ned Curic to a newly created role of vice president and chief technology officer. Continue reading →

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Class Action Suit Filed Against MyFord Touch System

Posted on 16 July 2013 by Ken Zino

A well-know, or infamous, national law firm has filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that Ford Motor Company’s MyFord Touch, MyLincoln Touch and MyMercury Touch touchscreen systems are defective. The firm of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro claims that the system often freezes, fails to respond to voice and touch commands and will not connect to mobile phones. Continue reading →

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GM OnStar Telematics Now in Mexico

Posted on 26 June 2013 by Ken Zino

OnStar Mexico, announced today that its telemetric services are now active on the new Chevrolet Cheyenne (aka Silverado) and GMC Sierra pickups, and will be available on the Cadillac ATS later this year. More vehicles across GM’s four vehicle brands – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac – will be equipped with OnStar throughout 2014. Continue reading →

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2014 Chevrolet Impala has Valet Mode to Protect Data

Posted on 20 February 2013 by Ken Zino

The revised Chevrolet Impala sedan with the optional infotainment system has a “valet mode” that locks up small personal items as well as protecting the addresses and contacts stored in MyLink. The password activated retractable faceplate covers a storage bin large enough to hold a wallet, MP3 player and smartphone. Continue reading →

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Distracted Drivers and Vehicle Design Briefing offered by CAR

Posted on 20 September 2012 by Ken Zino

The automotive electronics evolution has seen increasing emphasis on connected vehicle systems, driver assistance systems, and infotainment systems. Given the potential for these systems to cause huge drops in customer satisfaction, as Ford Motor learned with its My Touch and My Sync systems, it is not surprising that auto companies are now hiring people with experience in human factors engineering, human-machine interface, and mobile device technology. The latest briefing is one of a series CAR offers on relevant topics of interest to industry professionals. Continue reading →

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SAE Convergence 2012 offers Telematics Courses on Connected Cars

Posted on 21 August 2012 by Ken Zino

SAE International will hold three professional development courses in conjunction with Convergence 2012 this October 16-17 in Detroit. In a focus on the latest technology now used in automotive electronics, seminars will be on Autonomous Vehicle Positioning Systems, Wireless Communications in the Autonomous Connected Vehicle, and Software Architectures and Security for Connected Vehicular Systems. Continue reading →

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Largest Road Test of Connected Vehicle Crash Avoidance Started

Posted on 21 August 2012 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Department of Transportation is starting the largest road test or vehicles with crash avoidance technology today in Ann Arbor, Michigan. About 3,000 cars, trucks and buses equipped with “connected” Wi-Fi technology that allows vehicles and infrastructure devices to “talk” to each other. The goal is to see if crashes could be avoided and traffic flow improved during the next year. In Europe, such technologies are also under study. Continue reading →

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Nissan Creates Zero Emission Fund to Sell CO2 Credits

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Nissan Motor Company in Japan today announced the launch of the Nissan Zero Emission Fund for individual Nissan electric vehicle (EV) owners in Japan that converts the amount of CO2 emissions that are offset by driving the electric Nissan Leaf to generate credits. Continue reading →

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OnStar Subscribers Reach 450,000 in China

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

OnStar Shanghai said today that it passed two major milestones in May with its subscriber base across China reaching 450,000, and requests for Turn-by-Turn Navigation totaling 13.8 million since the launch of the telematics service in October 2009. OnStar has 6 million subscribers worldwide.

Shanghai OnStar received certification from China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping in 2011, becoming the first telematics joint venture allowed offering mapping service in China. Continue reading →

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Ford, Lincoln Change Touch Screens after Quality Ratings Dive

Posted on 6 March 2012 by Ken Zino

While Ford keeps claiming its customers want electronic features such as MyFord Touch, saying 56% of them rate the technology as an “important” part of the buying decision, its quality and customer satisfaction ratings by users as measured from independent sources have plummeted during the three years since introduction. Continue reading →

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OnStar Aftermarket Mirror – $299 – at Best Buy Next Week

Posted on 18 July 2011 by Ken Zino

OnStar is now offering its telematics services in the aftermarket for older General Motors cars and the most popular non-GM vehicles. It’s the first time owners of other makes of automobiles could subscribe to OnStar through a Chinese built electronic mirror. Continue reading →

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Los Angeles Motorists Rate Number One as Good Samaritans

Posted on 12 April 2011 by Ken Zino

Drivers in Los Angeles made more “Good Samaritan” calls last year to report other motorists in trouble, according to OnStar, the telematics arm of General Motors said today.
Using anonymous subscriber interaction data, OnStar found that of the 10 largest U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Los Angeles had the most Good Samaritan calls in 2010 by a wide margin, with nearly 900 more calls than Chicago, which came in second.
Continue reading →

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