Vauxhall Onstar connectivity system pricing announced

Vauxhall’s new Onstar system will be available in the company’s cars from August, and will be making its debut in the new version of the Astra.

Onstar will be free for the first 12 months - offering security and safety features for users - and will cost £79 per year after that.

Also free for the first year is 4G connectivity, although the cost after the first year is yet to be revealed and will be in addition to the £79 for Onstar.

If purchasing Onstar as an optional extra, it will be £395 for the first 12 months, including 4G data allowance.

The company has confirmed that the European headquarters for Onstar will be based at Vauxhall’s UK base in Luton. Advisors will man the phones for the system, and new recruits will be subjected to strict language fluency tests. The Onstar headquarters employs 120 people, most of who are new recruits through the project.

As well as the UK, Onstar is set to be offered in countries like Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

The system will be either optional or standard across Vauxhall’s range within a couple of years and bring a level of car connectivity yet unknown in European cars.

Vauxhall plans to offer it as standard in the new Astra in SRi and Elite trim, and it will be optional across the rest of the range. The Viva will get it as standard in SE trim, while SL will have it as an option and the Insignia gets it standard in Tech Line and Elite and as an option in other trims.

As well as providing 4G connectivity for up to seven devices in one car, Onstar offers enhanced safety and security. If an airbag deploys, for instance, an Onstar-equipped car will automatically alert operators in a call centre, who will call assistance if needed.

Onstar operators can also provide information about points of interest and send a route to the car on request. It also can provide tracking information for stolen cars.

If an owner is willing, Onstar will even send information about impending mechanical problems to an owner’s local dealer. 

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