“You can access the services via the roof buttons, or you can call OnStar directly if you haven’t got your car with you and need things doing, plus we’ve got a smartphone app.
“In terms of the services we’ve got emergency services, vehicle diagnostics, we’ve also got stolen vehicle, destination download and we’ve got the app.
“In the case of stolen vehicle, once you’ve reported it stolen, OnStar can help you fill out the police report and then we’ll start monitoring where the vehicle is, As this is an emergency, this is the only time we’d do that. Then, when we find the car, we can then block the ignition.
“In terms of the buttons, one of things that’s really important in Europe is data privacy. So we have a privacy button, the blue service button which gets you through to the advisor in the UK 24:7, 365 days a year. It’s a real person and not a machine and then there’s the SOS, if you have a big incident going on – this is the button for priority connection to the OnStar advisor.
“With the privacy button, this is where you set your wi-fi for the vehicle. With OnStar, you can have up to seven devices in the vehicle. So there’s no excuse for tablets not working! You can also set up the wi-fi via the app. So although it’s a privacy button, it’s the one you’d use for your wi-fi settings.
If you have a roadside incident, the beauty of OnStar, is that we know where you are and the status of the vehicle
“This is also where you can also mask your location, as when you press any of the other buttons it sends information to the OnStar system. It identifies where you are, but if you press that button it won’t send the vehicle data of the vehicle location.
“Say you want to find the nearest coffee shop to where you are, OnStar can find it because it knows where you are. If you’ve masked your location, we can’t.
“If you have a roadside incident, the beauty of OnStar, is that we know where you are and the status of the vehicle. If you’ve masked your location we don’t and all you will need to do is to come off the call, press the button and unmask the car.
“It’s only overidden in emergencies if the vehicle is stolen, or if there’s a crash, or if you press the SOS button – we’re going to know where you are anyway to deliver this service.
“OnStar works independently of your mobile phone, and again this is another plus point of the system.
“In an accident, OnStar knows where you are, they know the vehicle data – so they know where you’ve had the impact and they will talk to the appropriate emergency services based upon your exact location and who is responsible for the emergency services in that area. It will then send them to you.
“OnStar will then stay on the line until the emergency services arrive – they won’t leave you. They can also pass on information to your family, if you allow them – although again you have to opt in to that.
