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2023 Cadillac Escalade Will Get Mandatory Three-Year OnStar & Connected Services Plan

Back in early July, we reported that most vehicles from both the Buick and GMC brands would be sold with a mandatory three-year OnStar & Connected Services Plan (RPO code R9M) – a decision that was met with a tepid response from GM Authority readers. We’ve now learned the 2023 Cadillac Escalade will also be subject to this same change, with the same Three-year OnStar & Connected Services Plan as a required option for all retail and registered sold orders.

This change means all new 2023 Cadillac Escalade orders will be sold with a Three-Year OnStar & Connected Services plan, which will be worked into the price of the vehicle at the time of purchase. It’s not clear how much this will add to the price of a 2023 Escalade, however the plans cost between $905 and $1,675 for Buick and GMC models.

OnStar & Connected Services adds a separate, in-vehicle internet connection to power GM vehicle apps like the smartphone-based remote key fob, Alexa Built-In AI assistant, Spotify, Audiobooks, navigation (including Maps+) and more. These plans also integrate OnStar Safety Services, such as Automatic Crash Response, Roadside Assistance and Stolen Vehicle Assistance.

A spokesperson from the automaker previously told GM Authority the mandatory Three-Year OnStar & Connected Service plan was implemented on Buick and GMC products to “enhance our customers’ ownership experience.”

“This offering provides our owners with a full suite of OnStar and Connected Services for three years, providing them with more time to enjoy services such as remote key fob, Wi-Fi data and OnStar safety services,” the spokesperson said. “By including this plan as standard equipment on the vehicle, it provides more customer value and a more seamless onboarding experience.”

Just as with the Buick and GMC models, fleet customers that purchase a 2023 Cadillac Escalade will receive OnStar Vehicle Insights instead of Remote Access through this plan. OnStar Vehicle Insights provides access to on-the-fly information including Vehicle Health, which includes oil life and fuel efficiency, as well as driver behavior metrics and daily trip summaries.

Production of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade started on July 18th.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac Escalade news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. At least it’s Cadillac.
    So when is Chevrolet going to require OnStar?

    Reply
  2. Brilliant. Now Cadillac customers get to pay for three years worth of #### that they already have and pay for with their phones.

    Reply
  3. Heard in China BMW will charge for use of heated seats on demand. Guess you get a bill?

    Reply
  4. GM is trying their best to run off their older loyal customers.

    Reply
    1. If they manage that, they won’t have any customers at all.

      Reply
  5. All GM vehicles will get hit with this charge and dealers are not touching it.

    I had negotiated for a new truck and they would not remove this charge. I left. My hope is they will reverse this at some point and I may go and buy the truck.

    I have no use for On Star.

    If they start the subscription thing it is over.

    This subscription deal is by the month, year and the time you own the car. I will not pay monthly payments to use a key fob.

    Reply
    1. Worse than a Monthly subscription, you have to pay the 3 years upfront. Try getting a refund if you rid yourself of the vehicle before 3 years.

      Reply
  6. Hopefully GM will realize their mistake and soon… I’ll never buy any of their products if a mandatory OnStar subscription has been tacked on. It’s a useless service that I wouldn’t want nor would I be willing to pay for, period!

    Reply
  7. Look out GM you’re going to lose loyal customers..

    Reply
    1. Watching their actions over the last few years I don’t think they even care. Customers be damned

      Reply
  8. Hate to say it, but all of the manufacturers will be going to a monthly subscription service. Just another way to dip into your pocket and keep big brother watching and listening to your every move. I just bought a 22 Sierra Denali and yesterday learned that after 30 days, none of my technology will work if I don’t pay the monthly fee to OnStar for Google Services. Hopefully I can figure out how to get it to work like my old truck so I can at least have hands free phone calls. Would have made the move to Ford had I known this prior to the purchase. If buyers revolt, they will back down but people don’t work that way. Buyers will pay the amount, complain and go about their day. Soon every new car will have a monthly fee added.

    Reply
    1. I would not be so sure of that. I for one have bought only gm for the last 20 years. Had some fords before that. But mandatory on-star means I will buy something else. Really. And gm should take note. Customers who are loyal that you burn *never* come back. I’ve got around 2K worth of gm card money that I will walk away from rather than be forced into this. I was thinking of getting a Lyriq next year, but not under these conditions.

      Reply
    2. Connect your phone wirelessly using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Then select things from your phone will be accessible on the display.

      Reply
      1. GM desperately wants to be viewed as the Silicon Valley of Detroit. This will never happen. Onstar sounds like something from the 90s. That’s where it belongs. They still haven’t figured out that *anyone*buying a Cadillac, has unlimited data on their mobile plan. The percentage of ppl buying any new vehicle, that don’t have unlimited mobile data has to be extremely low. Ford meanwhile : Lightning, Bronco, Maverick, upcoming Raptor R… one grandslam after another. They haven’t forgotten that their primary business is engineering and building cars and trucks that ppl can’t live without. Outside of the Corvette team, GMs direction is past the point of worrisome.

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    3. All it takes is one or two hold-outs and that will collapse like a house of cards in a windstorm.

      This is reminiscent of a time when pricey hotels like Hilton, Sheraton, etc would charge $9.95 a day for internet, while the Holiday Inn and the Comfort Suites didn’t charge at all. That soon came to an end.

      BMW is doing some payment scheme to run equipment already in the car. I believe this is in China. They no doubt will bring that nonsense here, and a few BMW-blind will pay; many more won’t.

      I also give it just a few months and some geek types will find a hack to turn everything on, manufacturer be damned.

      Reply
  9. Oh Hell No! I just bought a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 last year and made sure it did not come with OnStar or SiriusXM. Why would I want to pay for that when I have Waze and SiriusXM apps on my phone for free.

    Reply
  10. The sentiment on this forum is 100% negative and I suspect it reflects the buying public in general. I ordered a 2023 1500 Sierra yesterday and the charge was listed on the build. I’ve used connected cell phone apps for 10 years and our newer cars with wireless CarPlay don’t work as well (sound quality isn’t as good as USB connection). I told the dealer it was offensive but their hands are tied. Dealer said it was the second biggest complaint to not being able to order Max Trailering on Denali trim.

    If it’s necessary for the tech to work then include it in the price and show OnStar and WiFi as complimentary for three years. MSRP on the new Sierra is $76,000 and most of us don’t like being told what to buy. I’m still buying it because that’s the vehicle I want and fits my needs. Still offensive.

    Reply
    1. Of course you realize that by buying the vehicle anyway, you approved of this decision.

      Reply
    2. So, if someone spits in your face, you thank them and give them a $1500 tip?
      Remarkable!

      Reply
      1. Yep. Only in America.
        When Holden/GM pulled manufacturing out of Australia the Aussies said F that & quit buying Holden vehicles. So GM closed down Holden.
        The Aussies have principles unlike enabling Americans.

        Reply
  11. Oh, so much complaining.

    You all insist on getting a Cadillac with all the latest and greatest technology including Super Cruise. Now you complain that you have to spend $40/month to maintain the connection that enables all of those goodies.

    Life’s too short for all this whining. If you can’t afford it, don’t go buying a new vehicle. Plenty of used options out there and best of all, they don’t contain the technology that you’re all hating on.

    Ridiculous that people looking at a $110k vehicle have an issue with an included OnStar service.

    Get Over it! Or settle for something less.

    Reply
    1. Obviously throwing another $1,000 on the build is affordable to buyers of these vehicles. The offense is not the charge but seeing “mandatory” on the build. I might buy it anyway but don’t tell me what to do. They could have packaged this differently and had a semi-win or at least lessened the discord.

      Reply
      1. I’d agree how they’re presenting this is a big part of the issue. They should have just increased the Base price and included the 3 years of free connection. But, that’s hiding it whereas the way they did it, it’s very obvious. I suspect the reason for this is so that when the 3 years are over, and OTA updates and Google services end, people understand why and can look back to this feature.

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        1. They should have just increased the price and not bothered with including onstar. It is really stupid to charge what is probably 10X their cost on onstar and customers know it. Might even be more than 10X. My alarm company just turned off 3G so I had to go to 4G. But the monthly price dropped from 15 to 13 and that includes the actual monitoring. That is how cheap 4G data connections are. About a buck a month in volume. I went to the website of the 4G modem company and I think you could get even less than a buck a month in very high volumes. And you could sort of even compare onstar to an alarm I guess. So at 13/mox12 is 156/yr. A far cry from the 500 they want. So bottom line, this is pure profit. And probably to hide just how razor thin EV vehicle profits are.

          Reply
        2. Better yet, leave the price where it is, and not include the OnStar. With the commonality of the cell phone, OnStar is just not needed.

          Reply
      2. NearGeezer: Exactly.

        GMC Fan: I basically agree with you, but the difference is that not all of us want it (I’m very much against any of this tech beyond a basic touch screen, bluetooth and CarPlay). For me, technology that I want and use is remote start, keyless entry, traction control, ABS, Auto climate control, power window/locks/seat, and so on. I personally have absolutely ZERO interest in Alexa, Google services, in car WiFi, super cruise and so on.

        I don’t think I’m alone here. I don’t think I’m being dramatic about this. I’m the person who has never (ever) paid for TV/cable and I only recently installed WiFi internet in my home because the kids really needed it for online school work. I truly feel that the overall sentiment on here is going to show GM just how bad of a decision this really is. The problem (and you touch on this) is that so many people want/insist on all this in-car tech and connected services and this move is to support those items. So I agree 100% with Neargeezer that GM is truly mishandling how they market this.

        Reply
        1. Problem is, the Sierra that was replaced a few months ago didn’t have all the technology and oh the complaining was over the top. It’s outdated!

          Well, GM remedied that and I’m doing so, they made it connected with the latest tech. Now the same people are complaining that they shouldn’t have to pay for OnStar to support that technology. It’s ridiculous. Basically I’m entitled to what I want for free. It doesn’t work that way!

          You like having new vehicles. Reality is that every change you make, the new vehicle is going to be more connected and you’re going to see these charges. Thinking that switching to a different brand will solve that is ludicrous.

          Reply
          1. GMC Fan: Again, I actually agree with you. I’ve been chastised to no end on here when I complained about the overly huge and stupid screens. The tablet stuck to the dash. Google services, etc, etc. Because I work in this business and have now for 21 years, I’ve seen the constant progression (or in my opinion the degradation due to) of the tech being pushed. I’ve said it in the past and will continue to: Give me a more basic car with an old fashion radio with a volume and tuning knob. Heck, I’d like to go back to the time before cell phones as I feel the cell phone is one of the most dangerous items to come out in my lifetime. The cell only makes it easier for the drug dealers. Cheaters. Illegal activity. You name it, the cell phone has created more problems than anyone cares to admit to. Yet we now live in a society where it’s a necessary evil! I could go on, but why?

            So yes you are actually 100% correct in what you say. People on here don’t like it because the truth often hurts. Yet I’ll go back to why I’m upset about it all. It’s because I may not have a choice and all this stuff that I really dislike is being forced upon me IF I want a new car. So maybe my 2021 Malibu will be my very last new car because I refuse to buy anything from Japan, I don’t want anything from Europe and I prefer American brands over S. Korean. But does all that really matter? We all know that they are all heading the same direction. So for those on here upset about GM doing this, well hold on to your britches because they are all going there fast!

            Reply
          2. Yet Tesla does no such thing. But clearly you know more… “switching to a different brand will solve that is ludicrous…”

            Yes, especially when it’s clearly made better, and doesn’t charge for that.

            Reply
            1. make onstar great again: I don’t know who your comment was directed towards and I’m not clear if you are saying something nice or bad about Tesla.

              Anyhow, (for me) Tesla is just too expensive. The only model that is within my set range of affordability is the Model 3. I’ve ridden in exactly 3 of them now and in general I like them. However, you can’t get a Model 3 without that see through roof and that’s a huge problem for me due to an eye condition that makes me very sensitive to light. Yes it’s tinted, but that doesn’t help enough and it still gets much hotter inside than a car like my Malibu does. The second thing is the gawd awful I-pad stuck to the top of the dash. That alone takes it out of my list of cars I’d buy. And so for those reasons, I’m just not a Tesla buyer.

              Reply
        2. I have quite a bit of tech in my non-GM vehicle, and the three before it had a bit more. It did not need connection back to the mother ship in order to make it all go. GM is using this as an excuse, and likely will use it as a bridge to BMW’s charging a monthly fee to use the now-common accessories you have already paid for.

          Reply
    2. @ GMC Fan
      You constantly complain about what everyone says on here, why don’t you make your own website where you have complete control over what people say.

      Reply
    3. It has nothing to do with money. This is a little beyond your level of sophistication. Agreed with other comments about the buyer of the truck. You voted with a $70,000 resounding yes to forced Onstar. Should have bought an f150.

      Reply
    4. If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.

      Reply
  12. I wrote Mary barra about this offensive money grab. Won’t do any good but I had to.
    F u gm.

    Reply
    1. Mary cant count past 13, she’s useless, unless needed to Lie before Congress. Now if you need that area covered Mary’s your gal. Her performance equalled Meryl Streep’s performance, and although one actress has earned multiple Academy Awards, GM felt Mary’s performance should receive the same compensation as Ms. Streep’s . . . $20,000,000.00

      Reply
      1. Her and Amber Heard up for ACADEMY AWARDS with the rest of the narcissistic phonies!🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

        Reply
  13. Services such as remote key fob?????? They are going to charge to use a remote? They have lost their minds!! As well as this long time customer.

    Reply
    1. I don’t like it either but to clarify, the remote referred to in the service is your cell phone and not the fob. The connected services uses your blood tooth on the phone (if it’s set up) to enable the phone as a fob (and more). It’s cool tech but I don’t like being told I have to buy it.

      Reply
      1. Ironically I view the phone fob as a negative. It is one more attack vector to steal your car. Carthrottle reported Tesla’s and BMW’s are subject to bluetooth attack.

        Reply
      2. iPhone based remote function is free with many vehicles costing half as much or less. I’ve had four Corvettes with free trial of On Star, and never used it once in any of them. Also, in my opinion, the navigation app that is free in my iPhone is far superior to the GM navigation system.

        Reply
        1. The nifty part about your iPhone maps, and the ones in Android phones: they are updated quite frequently.

          Reply
    2. Meantime, (if they are smart) Ford, MoPar, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, KIA, Mitsubishi, VW, Subaru… all will have their key fobs work like they have for the past 25 years: mash on the button, the locks lock or unlock. No charge except for a new CR2032 every couple of years.

      Reply
  14. My 2022 GMC sierra refreshed has this same issue. Didn’t get a full explanation of how all the technology worked until I actually owned it. Now my monthly “data” plan costs me $50.00 a month for things I got free in last vehicle. Seems it is all or none . Not a happy camper.!!

    Reply
  15. Golden marketing opportunity for Ford. The ads practically write themselves. Couple sitting at their “kitchen table” looking at where they can save money going through their monthly bills. “Ontstar? Don’t we get all that from our $150 monthly phone bill?”.

    Reply
    1. @ John: Exactly. Not trying to start a “truck war” here, but even though I and my family have been solid GM people most of our life, I can say that nearly every family member and my friends have all switched to Ram. I like the Ford’s ok, but the Ram (IMO) is just the best truck offered today.

      But does it really matter? It’s only a matter of time before they are all doing this same thing. Any betters out there? I give it till the end of 2023 and every major manufacturer will be doing the same thing. Or, I’d second that with GM will have such negative blow back that the others will avoid it and GM will reverse course.

      Reply
      1. There is greed, and there is common sense. I am fairly sure people from MoPar and from Ford read this site, along with those working for other manufacturers. They will make informed judgments.

        I just don’t think “all” will join in on this money grab.

        Another thing to consider: the dealers are probably burning up the wires to their zone reps and regional management about lost sales. Granted, people are buying what they can get and some are willing to suffer extortion. But, the market will free up sooner than one may think.

        Reply
  16. As someone as who has bought 10 new GM cars in the last 8 years, at least 5 were cadillacs, this really grinds my gears. Onstar has provided no value for any of my purchases and if the “connected” plans were satellite based it may make sense, but considering I already have an unlimited data plan, there is no value. At least I get Onstar updates from a vehicle I have never owned. I guess I’ll switch to ford until they start this crap.

    Reply
  17. I’m ok with that .. I just want my 2023 Escalade that I ordered!!

    Reply
  18. Here’s the problem as I see it. If you are gonna charge me for a technology I never plan on using, then I should have it for the life of the vehicle. Don’t charge me for it and then take it away. I am not a fan of adaptive cruise control. I don’t have a choice on some vehicles and yet the price I pay includes the R&D that went into developing the technology. I don’t have to use it if I don’t want, but since I’ve already paid for it, I will have it for as long as I have the vehicle. Charging me for the technology and then taking it away after 3 years if I don’t give you more money should be criminal.

    I was going to reserve a Lyriq. I’m gonna hold off until I know this won’t be added to the price. It not the cost, it’s the principle. I may be able to afford the additional cost, but I will not participate in this blatant money grab.

    Reply
  19. Companies are dumb. Just add the price to the MSRP and on the window sticker just show the option as already included at no cost. It’s obviously not an option, so why list it as an option for $1200 and make people mad. Add it to the cost and show as included, they’re just setting their selves up for ridicule and backlash.

    Reply

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