Nobody delivers added peace of mind like OnStar. For over a quarter of a century, we’ve been there for our Members, our communities and our First Responder partners. OnStar has continually evolved over the past 25 years, always at the forefront of technology and innovation, and staffed by highly trained and skilled Advisors.
Here’s a look at how OnStar Advisors and technology have added peace of mind to those on and off the road over the years and how we continue to focus on public safety.
1996
OnStar is introduced at the Chicago Auto Show as the first built-in vehicle telematics system. When air bags deploy, the system alerts an OnStar Advisor, who then contacts emergency responders for assistance. Select 1997 Cadillac models are the first vehicles to feature OnStar.
2001
Customer base reaches 1 million Members connected and protected by April and doubles to 2 million by December.
2003
Advanced Automatic Crash Notification debuts, employing real-time data from sensors throughout the vehicle to notify an Advisor of a moderate-to-severe front-, rear- or side-impact crash.
2007
OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Assistance feature utilizes GPS technology to help authorities locate a Member’s vehicle quicker.
2008
OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Slowdown takes security-services capability a step further. Once law enforcement has confirmed the vehicle to be in sight and conditions are safe, Advisors can send a signal to remotely slow down a stolen vehicle, helping prevent high-speed pursuits.
2009
The new Injury Severity Prediction feature uses real-time vehicle crash–telemetry data and an algorithm to help predict the probability of severe injury in a crash, aiding First Responders with dispatch and patient care decisions.
Also, in 2009, another Stolen Vehicle Assistance technology, Remote Ignition Block, debuts and gives Advisors the ability to remotely send a signal to block a vehicle from being restarted once it has been turned off.
2010
OnStar Emergency Advisors become Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)-certified by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch™ (IAED).
2013
The IAED recognizes OnStar as an Accredited Center of Excellence, the first non-emergency service and private company to receive such an honor.
Also in 2013, OnStar announces the availability of built-in Wi-Fi® Hotspot in properly equipped vehicles.
2014
OnStar Emergency Advisor Bryan Anta is awarded Dispatcher of the Year by the IAED for assisting a woman who was having a serious asthma attack on the side of the road. His creative suggestion for the driver to use the vehicle’s horn to answer medical questions assisted in saving her life.
2015
OnStar marks its 1-billionth Member connection midway through the year.
2016
Emergency Advisor Letisha Ghanbari earns the Dispatcher of the Year award from the IAED for her assistance in two separate calls involving pregnant women who went into labor while in vehicles.
2020
The new OnStar Guardian App1 gives Members and up to seven of their loved ones access to key safety services such as Mobile Crash Response, Location Status, Emergency Services and Roadside Assistance through a compatible smartphone in any vehicle.
2021
OnStar supports California’s statewide Next Gen 911 efforts by sending crash data electronically to over 400 Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) through a collaboration with RapidDeploy.
New! OnStar’s Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa2 is announced and will offer a voice-enabled connection to Emergency-Certified Advisors1 from a customer’s home through compatible Alexa-enabled devices, offering assistance during emergency situations. Read more here.
We could not have been successful without the support of the First Responder community throughout the past 25 years, and we are proud to have been by your side to help you keep our communities safe. Thank you for an amazing 25 years and be safe out there.
