Chevrolet is all about solving problems before they happen. At the 2015 Powered by Innovation event in Detroit, the automaker announced a new Theft Alarm Notification feature to help prevent break-ins, and now, the manufacturer wants to notify drivers of maintenance issues before they leave you stranded.
Called Proactive Alerts, the prognostic and diagnostic function aims to predict when particular components will need repair or replacement, allowing the driver to curb potential service issues before the vehicle is affected. The system relies on OnStar 4G LTE connections to provide data streams from the various sensors throughout the car, which are then sent to a server that uses an algorithm to asses the particular function’s heath. If service is deemed necessary, the driver is notified via email, text message, in-vehicle alerts, or through the OnStar RemoteLink smartphone application.
Proactive Alerts will be integrated into the RemoteLink application later this year, and will initially focus on battery health, starter motor lifespan, fuel pump durability, and tire pressure status. More systems are expected to be added as the technology develops, which could take a lot of the stress out of keeping your daily driver healthy.
“This is a new chapter in our pursuit to provide customers with convenience and the best overall service in the industry,” said Alicia Boler-Davis, General Motors’ Senior VP of the Global Connected Customer Experience. “Using our innovative OnStar 4G LTE connectivity platform, we can actively monitor vehicle component health and notify our customers if covered vehicle components need attention. Nobody else in the industry is offering this.”
Chevrolet’s prognostic capabilities will initially be launched on the 2016 Equinox, Tahoe, Suburban, Corvette, Silverado and Silverado HD models equipped with certain powertrains, but more models are planned to be added throughout the 2016 model year.