The refreshed 2019 Camaro gains a host of new features, including some (controversially) restyled front and rear fascias, a revised hood extractor, Rear Camera Mirror, Forward Collision Alert, new infotainment system, and a 10-speed automatic transmission. But in the process, it loses a feature that is likely to be missed by some – the Garage Door Opener, also known as Universal Home Remote or Home Link.
Across-The-Board Removal
GM Authority has uncovered that the Universal Garage Door Opener is no longer available on any 2019 Camaro model, trim level or equipment group – either as a standard feature or as an option. By comparison, the 2018 Camaro featured the functionality standard on the 2LT, 2SS and ZL1 trim levels
We don’t know GM’s rationale behind this decision, but we speculate that it has something to do with decreasing the price of the 2019 Camaro in order to reverse the model’s downward sales trend.
Lower Price Theory
Sales of the sixth-generation Camaro have been distinctly lower compared to those of its predecessor, a circumstance that Chevrolet officials have attributed to the current model being more expensive than the last one.
In that regard, removing certain features across the board and undercutting the competition in price might improve sixth-gen Camaro sales during the second half of its lifecycle, which starts with the 2019 Camaro.
Profit Margin Theory
Another perspective on the deletion of the Universal Home Remote is that of a balancing act in the name of profitability. Since the 2019 Camaro adds a few high-cost premium features like the Rear Camera Mirror and the new GM 10-speed automatic transmission as options on SS models, it could very well be that deleting other features (like the Garage Door Opener) balances out the profit equation for GM/Chevrolet.
What’s your take? Sound off in the comments.
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Comments
The odds are good that everyone already has remote for their garage door. There are more useless things they can delete like the backseat.
A HomeLink (or whatever brand opener GM uses) is dirt cheap for the electronics. I don’t know if there’s a licensing fee or anything like that however. But this decision smacks of old GM cheapness. Don’t get me wrong: I actually give GM a lot of credit and do think they’re headed in the right direction, but every once in a while they still make the cheap decision. I think that’s what this is.
I once learned that every $1 of cost at the production line adds $5 at the retail level. Lets assume that a Homelink system adds $10 cost production cost, that saves $50 to somehow where to place the $35 remote you bought at Sears.
George is right.
The cost of even the smallest items can add up fast.
When GM called the group of Camaro owners together for the 5th gen they were confronted with different option choices and the cost of them.
One item was the smell of leather in the seats. Yes the smell is not natural and it comes at an added cost. That cost if added means something else must go to retain cost.
Even my one Chevy has a link system that will not work with my one new opener. But it came with two openers that work just fine.
The average customer has no clue just all that goes into content as automakers speak so little about this area.
The bottom line is if you want to cut price in a car you must be willing to give something up.
Now if this were a truck the profit margins is much greater and there is room to work.
Odd – I know they’ve *added* it to other models, so taking it away seems strange.
Since it’s a trailer park car why do you need it?
No, Your confused. That is the Mustang that is in the trailer park where you live.
THE CAMARO KS STILL THE BEST AND FASTEST CAR IN IT’S CLASS, WHO CARES ABOUT A DUMB ASS GARAGE DOOR OPENER?! I COULD 3D PRINT ONE IN MY SLEEP AND PROGRAM IT WHILE EATING MY BREAKFAST (WHICH WOULD BE SCREAMING HOT, UNLIKE YOUR COLD ASS CEREAL). THE IRONIC THING IS THAT THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER IS A GAY THING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT BABIES.
I read somewhere it has to do with the new rear view camera and there not being enough available wiring for both of them
This another thing customers say they need when they really dont, and GM should not be criticized for not having it or keeping it!
They likely gathered the data from the cars remotely and saw that the garage door opener feature was rarely setup for use. So someone saw the data and made the decision to save some money on production.
The cost in software/hardware to remotely check the data would cost far more than the homelink itself…
Its common knowledge that they use onstar to gather the data. There was even pushback at one point over their privacy policy on data gathering. A quick search will confirm this.
Look how many people complained on this website about the Equinox when took the CD player out. (199) http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/10/don-is-upset-that-chevy-doesnt-offer-a-cd-player-in-the-equinox-mailbag/
Sorry, I have to disagree – this is not an equivalent comparison. The CD was replaced by the MP3, streaming, etc – so it was rendered obsolete by other technologies. Removing the integrated garage door opener as an option is a mistake without a better/seamless solution. I do not want to put a Sears/other brand remote control in my car – I LOVE the integrated Home Link in all my cars (Chevy, Ford, Cadillac) . Quite frankly this is a penny wise / pound foolish move for GM – it could actually be a reason I DON’T buy a car when weighing things in. If this is true, the accountants win short-term, but this creates a cheap stigma in my mind… GM can do better than this.
Why is putting a remote control in the car a bad thing? Its put in a compartment or behind the sunshade so most people dont even know you have one.
If this is the only thing keeping you from buying a car then it would seem that there are more underlying issues your not mentioning!
And I still emails that comments have been added!
It does appear to be cheapening out and I’m sure there must be high licensing fees…Most people who own camaro will keep it in a garage…All this cost/profit talk, do what subaru does, offer homelink as a dealer add on…
If you want cheaper cars you have to give something up. Small items add up.
It was announced that the 2019 Camaro would be costing $1K less expensive than the 2019 Ford Mustang as we can assume that the universal garage door opener is among some of the items deleted to get the Camaro’s price down.
Pointless option/feature. Delete and decrease price. Make backseat optional to decrease cost as well. Still say Camaro needs a stripper model with a 5.3l, hot cam, manual trans, no power windows/seats, back seats, radio delete, etc….Yes, all the crap GM pads its wallet with. A/C should be optional as well. Otherwise, buy a mustang GT instead for less $$$.
This reminds me of about 2003-05, while GM was ready to go bankrupt, that in a last ditch effort to save a few bucks they made anti-lock brakes optional on most of their cars. What a bone headed decision. Most other manufacturers have homelink standard on ALL trims, or on most. GM should have at least kept homelink standard on the 2SS. This is horrible. It’s 2018, homelink should be standard on all cars because the technology is so cheap. I had it on my 2009 Accord!!!
Yes, perhaps they want you to use the car cellular or Onstar services to connect to your garage door now. Companies like Chamberlain have WiFI controllable garage door modules. So you could just use your iPhone/Android as well. HomeLink is on the way out, even though it is still in wide use.
Yeah, in total agreement. Almost all garage door opener manufacturers offer smart openers that run off an Android or Apple app. I’m already seeing devices on Amazon to retrofit wifi connectivity / smart capability to older garage doors for under $100.
This makes Homelink and visor clip remotes completely obsolete. So long as you have your smartphone, you can control your garage door from anywhere. Plus you can use Siri or Google Assistant to open your door using a voice command.
The folks who are complaining about the loss of Homelink are simply not aware that there is newer and better technology available now.
Wrong answer buckwheat. Who is going to go out and buy a $600.00 garage door opener if they don’t need one? And only the top of the line most expensive ones have that feature. So contrary to your BELIEF, the FACT is few garage door openers have wireless technology and no one is going to go out to buy a new one just because GM got cheap and stupid.
Now that I’ve brought you back to reality, Homelink is still immensely popular and a required feature. ESPECIALLY on an upper trim level.
Like the guy said most of the openers can be converted to wireless for around 100 bucks. Stop being so cheap, understand the future is coming weather you like it or not. Homelink will be like CD players no need for them anymore.
Still wrong answer. 100 bucks isn’t the point. And you are wrong that “all garage door openers offer wireless conversions”….. only newer ones. Any older than about 5-10 years old are not compatible. I am not getting a brand new garage door opener system just because GM went cheap and you’re being a dick about it.
Great, this radar in this Forward Collision Alert will just add to the things setting off my V1! 🙁
So unfortunately for Chevy a similarly equipped Mustang is still a couple of thousand cheaper and still has wireless charging and the universal home remote. I still bought a Camaro but I was disappointed they removed those two features. Yes I have a remote with for my garage door opener but having it integrated with the car looks better and would have been nice.
If I pay the funds, I want what I paid for; I am one who enjoys the luxury and extra gadgets that come with the vehicle. I sometimes find myself enjoying the vehicle more because of the extra gadgets; Garage Door Opener, heated/cooled seats, heads up display, illuminating light displays etc.. However, I do not believe that eliminating one feature will help increase the sales of the Chevy Camaro because most buyers purchased the vehicle for it’s looks/appearance or demanding style. Other buyers preferred the horse power over the extra gadget or luxury features and prefer the 1SS over the 2SS because they do not believe in having leather seats in a performance vehicle (BAH Humbug).
I believe that eliminating some of the different versions and offering a base model like the Chevy Corvette, will help increase the sales. Therefore, if GM allows the Base Model or the RS, to be the first vehicle of purchase, it could be in either V4 or V6. Each will offer everything the SS offers just less horse power. The 2SS would be next, then the ZL1, and then Z28. This will allow the vehicle to remain in stellar form with the Mustang and the Challenger. I myself will continue to own the Camaro when it comes too the Big Three (Camaro, Mustang, Challenger). However, that’s my preference and not the next buyer who finds the 2018 better appealing than the 2019. I believe a true Camaro owner finds beauty in every change, upgrade or down grade. I was looking forward to seeing the 2019 Hot Wheels Version, yet I do not think it will be made due to decreasing sales. Nevertheless, I own a 2016 and I will just upgrade to the 2018, if that is the case.
I truly love this vehicle in every version, from V4 to V8 and if you are one of the people who love to say, it’s not a Camaro if it is not a V8, than what is it? Just my thoughts and if you don’t like my thought, write your own and remember opinions are like A__h____, everyone has one! And yes I own a 2SS.
Every time I get the oppoftunity I tell you that leaving the homelink off of my 2019 SS Camaro was a huge mistake! I would pay and still will pay to have it pjt on my 2019 Camaro. Please! I love my Camaro. There is not even a storage place to lay a seperate garage door opener in this compact inside of this car. I still beg if you could add it on my car. I would gladly pay for it!!
I just got a brand new 2024 Panther Collector Edition 2SS today. Imagine my shock when I got back from a drive with my wife and I had commented that this one had the rear camera mirror, but otherwise it was very similar to my 2016 2SS. Then I couldn’t find the buttons for the damn garage door opener. I guess they got rid of it 5 years ago and I wasn’t aware. I wondered if it had something to do with the rear camera mirror feature making it incompatible for some reason, and I see someone here said they heard it was due to wiring issues. I guess if I had to choose, I’d definitely pick the rear camera mirror over the garage door opener. I just know that in my Silverado and Cadillac XT6, the universal garage door opener in the car works better, from further away, and in cold conditions, much better than the hand-held transmitter does. I guess it’s a good thing the Camaro will be parked for winter anyway.