General Motors’ own internal venture capital arm, GM Ventures, has invested in a company called UVeye that produces advanced vehicle diagnostics machines capable of scanning a vehicle for problems or defects.
UVeye says its systems “use artificial intelligence, machine-learning and high-definition camera technologies to quickly and accurately check tires, underbody components and vehicle exteriors for defects, missing parts and other safety-related issues.” The company’s proprietary vehicle scanning devices allow technicians to drive the vehicle through a scanner, which can automatically detect problems like dents, frame damage, brake problems, exhaust issues, fluid leaks, low tire pressures and more. The company’s scanners can be used to inspect a vehicle’s exterior, underbody and underhood.
UVeye says the GM Ventures capital will be used to help fund the “development and commercialization of the company’s vehicle inspection technology.” The company has also entered into a commercial agreement with GM to explore the expansion of its automated high-speed scanner systems to GM dealerships throughout various markets, allowing GM dealer technicians to benefit from this technology.
Thanks to this new partnership, more than 4,000 GM dealerships worldwide will be eligible to purchase the vehicle-inspection equipment to use in their service lanes. GM says its team will also explore applications for extending the technology to exterior scans and photography to generate online interest and potential sales for used vehicles.
UVeye scanners are already being implemented in a limited number of GM dealerships in North America.
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Comments
Great technology, but also a revenue generator for dealerships. I cannot believe the dealers would use this and not charge a fee to offset the cost of purchasing this technology.
You know that they will. If they charge 250.00 for a simple key program, imagine what the cost of a drive-thru scan will be. My Chevy Dealership had a dream and thinks that it is a Cadillac Dealership with the prices that they charge. With them being the largest in the area, all of the other Chevy Dealers followed suit with their pricing structure. I order parts for some of my older Silverado’s from GM Parts Now and take them to the dealer have them installed. It’s cheaper that way. Most dealers will not install parts unless they are bought from thar dealership, but I have a 25+ year relationship with them and have threatened to take my fleet elsewhere as well as my future truck purchases.
This will go a long way to make up for some of the new age technicians who have a hard time diagnosing issues the can not be currently uncovered by on-board sensing/reporting technology.
If I read this correctly, this does not diagnose any electrical or electronic problems. So what’s left? Previous collision damage and oil leaks? Maybe a leaky muffler or a loose molding?
This is not what the dealers need. The biggest problems are still electrical and electronic. That’s where the help is needed. Without that, all you have is an electronic service writer.
Absolutely agree with you. My 2022 Bolt was in the Chevy dealership shop for 46 days of the first two months of ownership because the techs could not diagnose an intermittent communication issue with a sensor.
Looks like a high priced visual inspection system being sold as an employee reduction scheme.
Sad