General Motors plans to roll out its OnStar smartphone app for vehicles in its 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC lineups, the automaker said today. GM has positioned the plug-in Chevy Volt as a “halo car” for showcasing this tech. Read More »
Cleantech
In the world of personal computers, you might say the problem exists between keyboard and chair. With Toyota’s cars, preliminary evidence suggests that in at least some cases, the problem arose between foot and accelerator. Read More »
ABI Research forecasts in a new report that apps for smartphone devices will give vehicle navigation systems a run for their money over the next five years — a trend that could make demand for connectivity a double-edged sword for green cars. Read More »
Google and GM plan to connect the automaker’s in-vehicle communications system with phones running on Google’s Android operating system, GM announced Tuesday. It all starts with a beefed up app for the Chevy Volt that will use Google tech for location-based services. Read More »
In its latest move to woo third-party developers and the consumers who buy their apps, Ford today says it has launched a “developer network” for its Sync communication platform, and plans to let drivers control smartphone apps using the Sync interface next year. Read More »
Ford announced Thursday that the navigation system in vehicles with MyFord Touch (an interface that provides easy access and controls for Ford’s onboard communication system, Sync) will let drivers select a route that prioritizes not only distance or time, but also efficiency. Read More »
If you’re impressed by the growing attention on “connected cars” in the U.S. then you haven’t been paying attention to the work that’s been done in South Korea. The country has been investing $230 million dollars per year into Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Read More »
The iPad could change the way vehicle networks operate and how consumers interact with organizations that offer alternatives to personal vehicle ownership. But a few hurdles stand between the device and a meaningful impact on vehicles’ software, entertainment, information and IT systems. Read More »
Nissan announced the sticker price for its upcoming LEAF electric sedan today, and at $32,780), it could be among the cheapest highway-capable electric vehicles on the road in coming years. Nissan also plans to lease the vehicle for $349 per month. Read More »
Crashed web sites, stolen credit card info — imagine seeing the damage caused by Internet viruses and worms unleashed on a fleet of vehicles. The results could include vehicle location data used with malicious intent, the prevention of a plug-in vehicle battery from recharging, remote starting… Read More »
Hybrid and electric vehicles can only ride so far on the appeal of their fuel economy gains and environmental credentials. For a majority of car buyers, factors such as style, performance and services for information, entertainment and safety will hold more weight in the decision to… Read More »
General Motors announced Tuesday night at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, an electric vehicle scheduled to launch in late 2010, will roll out equipped for remote control via smartphones. The automaker says its application (shown in a… Read More »