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GM Appoints New Head Of OnStar

GM has appointed a new head of OnStar. Effective November 1st, Mike Devereux has taken over as vice president, OnStar safety and security, following the departure of Jeff Massimilla.

Per a recent report from Automotive News, Massimilla departed OnStar after a little over a year, originally taking the position in September of 2021. Massimilla introduced a new brand identity and logo for OnStar in July as the brand expanded the reach of its services. Massimilla previously serviced as vice president for global cybersecurity, vehicle safety chief, and director of global validation. GM did not provide comment on Massimilla’s departure.

Meanwhile, Devereux is assuming the new role after serving as vice president for vehicle sales, service and marketing for GM China and SAIC-GM, a joint venture between GM and SAIC Motor Corp. Devereux’s career at GM began in 1984, and includes a number of leadership roles over the years.

The launch of the new OnStar brand identity also included an expansion for the brand’s various services, such as the announcement of OnStar Guardian for motorcycles, with customers offered around-the-clock access to Emergency Advisors and roadside assistance specifically geared for bikers. For example, the associated app can leverage smartphone sensors to detect when the user is either riding or driving, as well as if a crash occurs. If a crash is detected, the app can notify an OnStar Emergency advisor, who can then contact first responders and provide medical assistance if needed.

The recent expansion of OnStar services also included integration with Amazon Alexa for at-home assistance and safety services, providing users with access to voice-command prompts to connect with an OnStar Emergency Certified Advisor thorough an Amazon Alexa-enabled device.

Late last year, GM announced that OnStar Insurance would be available in all 50 U.S. states by early 2022. OnStar Insurance leverages embedded technology to track vehicle usage and driving habits, offering discounts and incentives to those drivers who practice safe driving.

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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. With these safe driver tracking of any newer networked tied automobile…this is still redundant and possibly obsolete.

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    1. “expansion of OnStar services”? The services that we used and liked are gone or going away. We canceled OnStar.

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    2. It is great for seniors who will not use cell phones while driving, or might not i understand how to use the navigation app on cell phones.

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  2. I wonder if I can get a cassette player as an option to put next to the On Star button. Both have the same value so…ya know.

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  3. I am a 25 year OnStar customer and love the concept of the service. Unfortunately…in the past few years the service has deteriorated and I have lost confidence in it. I’ve had app failures since the new app was released, random cancellations, a host of billing issues, and there is no consistency from one agent to another. I’ve been referred to your “Level 3 Customer Service” 4 times in year and a half and have never heard back from them. I love the concept of the app and phone connectivity for vehicle functions and vehicle information. I watch the Smart Driver program and it has made me a better driver. Tracking fuel levels, air pressure in tires, gas mileage, systems diagnostics and service reminders on my phone is great.
    Thanks for new leadership. I hope it helps.

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    1. I battled with Onstar for months about an issue I was having with SmartDriver…. and got a ticket to their software engineers they found a big bug and finally pushed out a fix for It to everyone in September. Apps been working fine for me since….

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  4. OnStar. Let It Die. You can’t beat a dead horse.

    GM is quick to replace ICE vehicles with electric vehicles. They are very reluctant to let this obsolete product go. Possibly it is still a cash cow for them. They are probably still using the GM Hughes satellites they put in space decades ago.

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  5. We bought a new 2018 Colorado for my wife. OnStar put her as primary driver causing two more vehicles that she never drives to go under her name. She doesn’t pay the bill. We ask every year, please change it back. “We have to talk to your wife.” She’s sitting right here. After 30 minutes “It’s fixed.” Then here come the emails and snail mail, all with her name on them. I might as well be talking to my lawnmower. Seems like it’s been many years since our calls were answered in the USA.

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  6. most of on-stars coverage depends on at&t and their coverage in North Dakota sucks except in big cities. If your in town you don’t need On-star. When you need it, out in the country, there is no coverage. Two years ago my pickup locked with the keys in the ignition, I know its not supposed to do that but it did. On-star could not unlock it because coverage was poor. Had to get a service man from town to un-lock it. Way to go On-Star, and now gm has put a mandatory 3 years with purchase at the rate of $1000. That really sucks.

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  7. Their latest policy of imposing a $1,500 add-on fee to new vehicles and their CCP relationship put the nail on the coffin for me.

    I’m done with GM

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    1. You’re “done” with GM? That kind of talk is EXACTLY why you can’t handle the truth.
      GM is the best, and that is the truth.

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    2. Now theme partnered with Google maps, if you don’t pay them they’ll shrink the size of your navigation screen making it more dangerous to use while driving z the whole reason you even pay for that dash. I hope gm gets sued along with Google for letting them shrink your gps display is you don’t pay for OnStar. I am thinking of getting a different brand truck when i order in a few months because of this evil 1500 scam. Then it’s$15+Per month after your vehicle is paid for to keep your navigation screen full size. You can opt out in which that is how they’ll blame us, the customer or consumer is you crazy trying to see your map whole driving. I will not pay for that dash because of this is i get a Chevy. Already learning towards others. We want big screens for big maps not big fees

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  8. On Star has deteriorated!
    I have gotten the wrong directions more than once.
    I now rely on my smartphone.
    The OnStar operators can’t wait to plug in a destination wether it’s correct or not.

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  9. I would not recommend onstar for anyone. They let me sit on busy hyway in desolate place in dark where I sat for two hrs on Sunday from 4-15 to 6-15 and they still had not found a provider to help. The first representive I spoke to I could hear him swear under his breath saying “jeasus christ” when I could not tell him where I was . They did call a police man which I was grateful for because the policeman on his own found a towing company who would come help in 1/2 hour. I am a 80 year old woman who had to sit for two hrs with no results from onstar. I have used roadside assistance a couple times during life time with much better results so my advice is call your insurence road side instead

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  10. I don’t think OnStar is as efficient as GPS navigation. For one thing, they don’t include current traffic conditions, accidents, detours, construction. These are all a big part of what we deal with today. I have OnStar, but at times wonder why I am paying $300 per year when there are better things out there. I use both. I mainly keep OnStar if there is a horrible emergency. Now you tell me you couldn’t get someone to help you when you were lost in the dark. How scary. They should have known exactly where you were. I will have to rethink my R$300/yr.

    Reply

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