OnStar launched in Europe to incredible fanfare in 2015, but the technology will be short-lived. Auto Express reported on Wednesday that OnStar will deactivate services for Opel and Vauxhall models in 2020—just five years after the service launched. The official end-of-service date is December 31, 2020.
Additionally, no new Vauxhall of Opel cars will be fit with OnStar from January 2019.
The decision comes as France’s PSA Groupe works to phase out GM platforms, powertrains and technologies. PSA purchased both Opel and Vauxhall from GM last year.
OnStar currently offers a suite of safety and connectivity features including 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspots. The cancellation includes emergency SOS function, which dials emergency services in the event of a wreck. In Europe, new laws mandate all new cars sold since March 2018 must feature an “eCall” function to contact authorities in event of a crash. PSA will have to find a workaround for the models sold between now and January 2019.
Every single Vauxhall and Opel model offer OnStar at current, and the former said it has no plans to suddenly exit the connectivity stage.
A spokesperson told the publication that it will provide “further details on future connectivity solutions at the appropriate time.”
Comments
Opel owners are being ripped off as ON Star was part of the package. PSA owes an identical replacement service to those effected.
GM Europe was key to global engineering operations, was near break even except for Brexit even with poor factory utilization, offered scale and a real potential for profits like Ford’s 1 billion last year.
Mary Barra has transformed GM into a regional player by quiting India, a massive potential market, and Europe. Down the road GM will end as a merger target or as a member of some alliance like Renault Nissan Mitsubishi because global sales are still key to full capital utilization.
Carlos Traverses is very smart and may well end up teaming up with GM down the road.
I honestly am surprised Barra hasn’t been canned and replaced with a CEO willing to make big investments. Maybe form something like Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi down the road, except with GM, Honda, and soon to be Stellantis.
There will be lawsuits.
PSA’s “Automotive Division OV” will offer “Opel Connect” or “Vauxhall Connect” (OV meaning Opel Vauxhall), the same as those cars of the “Automotive Division PCD” (Peugeot Citroën DS).
This does not only affect Opel and Vauxhall branded cars:
See https://www.onstareurope.com/
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All OnStar services in Europe and WiFi services using OnStar hardware will not be available after 31st December 2020.
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And again:
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Q: Will the OnStar Automatic Crash Response remain active after the end date?
No. All OnStar services in Europe will end on 31st December 2020.
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I understand this to mean also all Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles which might run on European roads and might have “OnStar” on board.
After 31st December 2020 it is OffStar.
Actually no, in Europe Chevrolet cars and very rare Cadillacs do not have Onstar system, only Opels do.
Sounds bad, OnStar was a very innovative service in Europe any other automaker here even Mercedes, Audi or BMW offers a similar solution.
Good!
no commends PSA destroyed OPEL !!! no any rules ,no security
All new Corvette and Camaro in Europe have Onstar System . Will be a big problem for GM – 3 year warrenty for all parts from the car and Onstar is a security-part; so they can not stop it without replacement. Otherwise i will give my C7 Z06 -build 2018- back to the dealer. I bought the car with this system, i paid the system and so i want to use what i have paid for.
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