OnStar Proactive Alerts

Owning an automobile comes with the inevitable task of seeing to its periodic maintenance. Today, the sophistication and reliability of manufacturing processes ensure that auto parts require little or no maintenance during the first few years of ownership. However, with constant or consistent use, wear and tear becomes inevitable. One of the intrinsic disadvantages of components reaching the end of their serviceable life is the lack of any form of alert mechanism that warns a driver of the need for maintenance. While this is prevalent on modern aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, cars were not equipped with such a warning system—until now.

American automaker Chevrolet has pioneered the design and implementation of a proactive alert system that gathers and transmits diagnostic data about vital auto components in order to generate real-time alerts to drivers about parts that need repair before they actually break down. The proliferation of onboard computing and telematics is a key enabler in this monitoring and alert system. While the impact of an alert being sent to a driver may be perceived as minimal, it becomes vital to the maintenance infrastructure that supports the vehicle. Workshops and maintenance crews no longer need to spend as much money and time generating diagnostic reports before tackling the source of the problem. Like the 787 Dreamliner system that transmits data about parts that require servicing, maintenance, or replacement while the plane is airborne, the OnStar Proactive Alert system collects and transmits data about operation-critical components including the fuel pump, starter, and 12-volt battery pack. The alerts to the driver are delivered in-cabin, by email and by text message. The system is currently available on the 2016 versions of the Silverado, Suburban, Corvette, Equinox, and Tahoe as an additional product with a 5-year subscription period. General Motors, Chevrolet’s parent company, has released the alert system for select 2016 GMC and Cadillac models and expects to roll out the advancement to all its future vehicles. As self-diagnostic systems gain sophistication, Chevrolet and other manufacturers who work with OnStar are expected to combine dealer and servicing notification with proactive diagnostic alerts.