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GM Authority

Chevy Vehicles Get Standard Remote Access Plan, $300 Price Increase

GM Authority has learned that all 2023-model-year Chevy vehicles, with the exception of the Chevy Express, now include a three-year Remote Access plan as standard.

According to GM, the Remote Access plan provides users with “simplified remote control of your properly equipped vehicle and unlocks a variety of great features in your myChevrolet mobile app.” Per Chevrolet’s website, some of the Connected Services associated with Remote Access via the MyChevrolet App include a Remote Key Fob, which offers remote vehicle start and stop, remote door locking and unlocking, and remote horn activation for properly equipped vehicles. Remote Access also includes Vehicle Location services, Navigation, and Real-time Diagnostics and Vehicle Status.

Notably, Remote Access is the same as the OnStar Connected Vehicle plan, which is normally offered for $24.99 per month. Consequently, the MSRP for all 2023 Chevy vehicles (except Chevy Express) has increased by $300, or roughly the same cost as one year of the OnStar Connected Vehicle plan.

Meanwhile, Buick and GMC models, as well as the 2023 Cadillac Escalade, have received a mandatory three-year OnStar and Connected Services plan. Consequently, the addition of this plan has raised prices for relevant models by varying amounts depending on the model and trim level, ranging between $905 and $1,500.

“To enhance our customers’ vehicle ownership experience, beginning June 2, 2022, new retail Buick and GMC vehicles will include three years of OnStar and Connected Services Premium Plan,” a GM spokesperson told GM Authority this summer. “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. By including this plan as standard equipment on the vehicle, it provides more customer value and a more seamless onboarding experience.”

As connected features become more and more important to vehicle buyers, the inclusion of services like Remote Access and the OnStar Connected Vehicle plan become equally as vital. This is particularly the case for new EV buyers, with GM enabling features like the Ultium Charge 360 platform and the new Plug and Charge payment system.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Remember the old saying to be careful what you ask for, as you might just get it? (Not the exact wording probably). Well, here we go with all the GM brands now officially charging extra for the stuff so many people say they want. That is, until they have to pay extra for it!

    On my 2021 Malibu, I accepted the “free” trial for the Onstar and then refused to renew it based on cost. Now they keep sending me stuff trying to get me back in for a discounted price. No thanks. But it just makes me go back to that old saying and I can hear my parents and aunts telling me that often. So for all those who just love the huge screens, connected everything and all that goes with it, here you go. Enjoy. Now you can take all the junk in your home that’s also connected and turn down the A/C or turn on lights or open a gate all from the seat of your car……………………I mean your SUV.

    Reply
  2. The problem with GM doing this.. when you finance the car you are paying this onstar plan plus the interest!

    I’m glad I bought a 2022! Now I know next car won’t be a GM,you will lost many customers GM!

    Reply
    1. So you think FordPass Connect (2-5 years), BMW ConnectedDrive (3 years), NissanConnect (3 years), Toyota Connected Services (1 year), and others, aren’t rolled into the car cost?

      All cars have this now thanks to EU mandates and product analytics.

      Reply
      1. The actual cost is peanuts in volume. I forget what the number was, but when my alarm switched to cell connect, I did some research and was stunned you could buy a data plan for an IoT for like a buck a year. The car just cannot be using much data, so the cost could be in that peanuts range.

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        1. It’s the opportunity cost. If say 25% of drivers would have paid $100/year x 3 years, then the bundled subscription has an opportunity cost of $75, and that cost has to be added back onto all cars, in addition to the direct costs, to break even.

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        2. Remember in early 2000s when every GM truck and SUV came with a cassette player separately mounted in the lower center stack that nobody wanted in the CD age? It listed for $99 or something. They bought them for probably $5. It was a nominal amount they turned into a $100M revenue stream. More of the same just on inflation and steroid greed. GM has always had screw the customer in their DNA

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  3. OnStar is antiquated and pretty much useless with cell phones. People aren’t buying it. So, they are forcing it on their customers.

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    1. You’re thinking of OnStar from 20 years ago. That’s not what we’re talking about. This is about app-based remote start and car tracking.

      Reply
      1. The OnStar of 20 years ago answered with a human 20 years ago, and once you got one, you got service. My last experience with it was that my call was very important and that other customers were being served. Once a live human came on, speaking in sentences longer than five or so words lost them.

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      2. Big deal! You can remote start your vehicle easily within 50 feet without an app. WHO does tracking benefit the most? GM. Asking for a friend.

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        1. It is a big deal. Start it at your desk at work, five minutes before you come out of the grocery store, when you live in an apartment or condo, when you accidentally lock your keys in the car…

          Not everybody lives in a single-family home.

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  4. Well, who didn’t see this coming? With the previous announcement for Buick, GMC, and Cadillac everyone knew it was a matter of time before Chevys received the forced OnStar plan.

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  5. This is wrong GM stop it already

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  6. When the government decides you don’t need any freedom during a lockdown. They will probably activate a kill switch and your vehicle will be useless. It won’t matter who the manufacturer is.

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  7. Guess I’m the minority here, but I absolutely love the remote access feature OnStar provides. I live in Phoenix and fly for work weekly. When we arrive at the gate I know I’m typically within 10 minutes from my car. When it’s 110 degrees it’s great to be able to cool down the car before I get there. Makes the ride home much more enjoyable. And yes, I pay for it.

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    1. For some it is a great feature. But it should be an *optional* feature so that those that don’t want it don’t pay for it. I guess all gm vehicles could come in black only, 1LT, with a fixed set of capabilities too. Would you think that is a good idea?

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    2. Mark W: I agree with what you said and yes, it’s a nice feature. But it’s not for everyone and therefore everyone should NOT have to pay for it as mandatory. I’ve paid for it and used it in the past until the app required that I either sign in every time I went to use it or that I locked my I-phone (thus needing to enter a code or my finger every time I want to use the phone). I do not use a lock on my phone nor do I wish to. The fact that I could no longer use my Chevy app without signing in each time caused me to drop the plan. I now just use me key fob to remote start the car once I’m within 200 feet of it.

      Reply
  8. So forcing customers to pay for this is going to make GM even less competitive. They are ignoring hybrids and forcing electric cars on to a society not set up for it. Already pushing people away. Was going to buy a 2023 Traverse, but not if I have to pay for something I DO NOT WANT! Going to start looking at other options now!

    Reply
    1. So you were going to spend between $36 to $50k on a new 2023 Traverse and now you won’t because of a $300 price increase that is tied to a new standard feature? That’s so smart of you!

      Reply
      1. so, GM is willing to lose the sale of a $35 to $50k truck to force a $300 option?

        Reply
  9. Obviously OnStar cannot make in the competitive marketplace and must be forced on customers to generate revenue to keep it alive!

    Reply
  10. Let’s talk about money For every 100 cars that Chevrolet sells they are taking in an extra $30,000 before the covid years they were selling 2,000.0000 cars a year WOW now that will be a big increase in income with no added cost to GM. After all, it’s just an app that is just like all the other free apps. They are selling you a no-cost item to them for $300. When I worked at GM they would push us to write suggestions to cut vehicle costs they were happy and would pay us well if you could save them 10 cents per car you were a hero because they would figure out 10 cents times one year of production I know I wrote one and they paid me $8,700. These extra charges for all of GM are adding billions of dollars every year in clear profit.

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  11. Every Chevrolet model except the Express Van … one of the most popular work vehicles that “getting locked out” likely happens 100’s of times daily … and no remote help. Good job GM management.

    Reply
    1. You can buy it for the van if you want to. The only thing here is it’s not involuntarily bundled.

      Besides, fleet vehicles have OnStar delete options, and they figured out that most vans would have had that anyway, or else have OnStar Business Solutions, with a third-party interface instead.

      Reply
  12. GM is loosing market share faster then Mary can cash in her stock.
    Adding increased cost to slipping GM customers chases more away.
    Mary must go

    Reply
  13. I’m a retired GM engineer – looks like I’ve bought my last GM vehicle

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  14. Extortion is bad for business.

    Reply
  15. I am reading a lot of whining about a simple subject. If you think what My girl Mary, and GM is doing is any different than any other manufacturer, you are sadly lost. Onstar is great, if you don’t like it, don’t use it. But if you want a quality American (even if not made here) vehicle, then be happy with it. If you want to roll the dice with another semi-USA make, or God forbid, something that sends your cash oversees, fear not, you will pay for something, somehow. This is 2022, car prices have been going up since Ransom Olds (NOT Henry Ford), decided to drag a car frame across the plant and let workers install components. I am a subscriber to GM Authority. As soon as the 2024 Chevy Blazer SS EV opened up reservations, I couldn’t whip out my Visa fast enough, and I intend to plan my trips, or keep a second ICE vehicle for long trips. What I noticed is that a lot of people just access this site to complain about something. Most are the same folks, using different names but with the same writing style. Every now and then, you can get some very sensible opinions, but it has become fewer and farther in between. What made me write this is after reading the exchange between Kretch and ibmickey. If you read closely, both of these individuals took turns taking both side of the same argument, just in different post. People are amazing when they have spare time on their hands.

    Reply
    1. Thank you denden for calling us amazing. You are amazing also with time on your hands.

      Reply
  16. I purchased a new 2022 Silverado ZR2. The Infotainment is beautiful, but worthless. If you do not pay for the data service nothing works. 90% of the time I cannot even make a voice command phone call.
    I believe this is to cover up the fact that the system does not work as advertised with a data plan.
    Even my dealer threw their hands up and said they had no answer.

    Reply
    1. GM is making a huge mistake going down this road. I’ve purchase GM’s my whole life starting in 96 with a fully loaded Chevy S10 SS, 2003 GMC Envoy SLT and 2016 GMC Sierra SLT. My next vehicle was going to be a new GMC Yukon Denali but when I heard they’re playing these games that changed. I’ll buy from another manufacturer. Everyone is trying to get you into a subscription. I’m not playing that with a car. The whole idea makes me very angry and will cost them my business!

      Reply
  17. I also have bought my last GM vehicle. I have a C8 and CT$ in the garage now. I do not like being forced to buy an “Option” that I don’t want. I have never had Onstar, not ever for the free trial.

    Reply
  18. I wouldn’t mind so much paying for the OnStar service if the myChevrolet app worked properly. I’ve had 3 documented issues that haven’t worked properly since an update back in February. Also the 2G Network Sunset issue also impacts one of our vehicles. GM/OnStar. Where are your priorities? Why haven’t you offered an update yet?

    Reply
  19. Wait..did I buy this? I just bought a 2023 Blazer Saturday and they told me I had a 30 day trial to the app and 90 day trial to OnStar. I actually want to try out the MyChevrolet app, but it is absolute garbage and won’t let me sign in it keeps saying “can’t retrieve account details”. I have uninstalled, cleared data, and reinstalled 3 times now with no change.

    I actually don’t think I paid for it because of when the Blazer was built. I noticed that prices recently went up a few hundred dollars on the configurator, I guess that’s what it was. Unfortunately my Blazer didn’t come with a full window sticker. I think that is because it was built without a few options and I have a dealer “we owe” sheet. They owe me a black grille bar, black Blazer badges, and black lug nuts. It was just built and shipped with the standard chrome.

    Reply

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