Skip to main content

Verizon Vehicle promises to turn almost any car into a smart one

Diagnostic information, roadside assistance, live support — These are the luxuries of connected automobile services like General Motors’ OnStar, but all have an obvious drawback: compatibility only with the very latest models from their respective manufacturers. Owners of older cars have so far been out of luck, but not for long if Verizon Vehicle, the new aftermarket service from Verizon Wireless that aims to turn any car into a smart car, works as advertised.

Verizon’s first foray into the telematics business takes the form of a pluggable module for your car. Unveiled Tuesday at the Detroit Auto Show, it slots into the OBD-II port found on virtually every vehicle built after 1996, and provides local wireless in the form of Bluetooth and GPS. Among the capabilities it boasts are diagnoses and early warnings of potential mechanical issues, maintenance reminders, and parking tools to keep track of meter location and time — all thanks to that one little ODB port.

Recommended Videos

Cellular connectivity and installation of an unobtrusive, visor-level speaker let the service go further. It can connect to Roadside Assistance, for instance, or the A.S.E. Certified Mechanics hotline. Additionally, in the event of a suspected accident, it’ll automatically dial support staff and dispatch EMS.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

If any of this sounds familiar, that’s because GM debuted its own aftermarket hardware and subscription, OnStar FMV, to much fanfare in 2011. An intelligent rearview mirror, it retails for $100 and offers comparable functions. Its subscription tiers, however, are significantly more expensive than the competition — basic service starts $19 a month, compared to a flat $15 a month with Verizon Vehicle (plus $13 a month per additional car).

Related: OnStar’s AtYourService to offer retail deals, hotel booking from the driver’s seat

Verizon’s chasing more than car makers with its initiative, though. AT&T, arguably the wireless carrier’s largest domestic competitor, has chosen to work directly with automobile manufacturers to offer cellular service in future cars. On Monday, it announced a partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc., Chevrolet, and Audi. Verizon Vehicle sidesteps manufacturers entirely with a direct-to-consumer approach, the wisdom of which remains to be seen.

Verizon Vehicle will go on sale in early April. The service, now available for pre-order, requires a two-year contract. For the time being, Verizon’s also bundling “substantial discounts” on vehicle rentals, hotels, auto maintenance, and more with purchase.

Kyle Wiggers
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
Volvo CTO Anders Bell chats its new do-it-all tech platform and future EVs
2025 Volvo EX90 front quarter view.

Volvo is at an inflection point. The company has finally launched the new Volvo EX90 -- it's long-awaited flagship electric SUV, designed to take on other premium large SUVs like the Rivian R1S. The new vehicle offers Volvo's signature Scandinavian style, but with modern features and Google's Android Automotive software.

Beyond being its first major electric SUV release, perhaps more important is the fact that the EX90 also represents the launch of Volvo's so-called Superset platform. Essentially, Superset is the Volvo-designed tech stack that is supposed to be used on all of its upcoming electric vehicles, containing all the modules and software necessary to power a built-out next-generation lineup of EVs.

Read more
Electrified buses are cleaning up urban transit, one stop at a time
An electric bus with the sun behind it.

When you hear "EV", you tend to think of a car, but the term is a big umbrella. E-bikes and scooters fall under the category as well, and so do buses. Public transit is already a fairly sustainable choice. Given the large size of bus battery packs and their pre-existing efficiency for mass transportation, does switching buses to electric appreciably lower emissions? Is it worth the work and cost of adding commercial charging infrastructure?

Our first stop in answering these questions was the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. This specialized government group supports the electrification of public transit by providing resources and technical assistance to local agencies.

Read more
Tesla reveals U.S. rollout date for its redesigned Model Y
Tesla Model Y 2025.

Tesla’s revamped Model Y is rolling out in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in March, the automaker announced on Thursday.

Among a flurry of social media posts, Tesla included a short video showcasing the freshly designed Model Y, which starts at $59,990 in the U.S.

Read more