OnStar launches Stolen Vehicle Slowdown

14 Oct 2008

A year after the demonstration of the prototype, General Motors and OnStar have launched Stolen Vehicle Slowdown® on more than one million model-year 2009 GM vehicles in the US and Canada.

The system enables OnStar to help law enforcement to recover subscribers' stolen vehicles by using built- in technology to remotely slow down the vehicle's engine.

By reporting a stolen vehicle to law enforcement, the subscriber can call OnStar request Stolen Vehicle assistance. An advisor will pinpoint the exact location of the stolen vehicle by using advanced GPS technology. Once law enforcement officials have the stolen vehicle in a clear line of sight and know conditions are safe, they can request that the OnStar advisor remotely slow it down. A signal sended to the vehicle's engine by OnStar will reduce the engine power and gradually slowingthe vehicle to idle speed while all other vehicle systems remain fully operational including power steering and brakes.

Offering Stolen Vehicle Assistance services with GPS location since 1996, OnStar now receives approximately 700 Stolen Vehicle Assistance requests every month, and has helped in 38,000 requests over the past twelve years.