Can OnStar Be Used in Volkswagen Cars?
2 Answers
OnStar system cannot be used in Volkswagen cars, as the OnStar system is a proprietary system of General Motors. Relevant usage regulations of the OnStar system: In China, General Motors has officially announced the service fees for the OnStar system to users, but it has not yet clearly stated whether non-GM car owners in China can purchase the OnStar system like a commodity. Nowadays, more and more car manufacturers are increasing their efforts in the research and development of interactive intelligent navigation systems, and many products have already been launched. Functions of the OnStar system: The functions of the OnStar system have expanded from the initial technologies such as digital crash signals, hands-free calling, on-demand diagnostic screening, situational information awareness, uninterrupted digital virtual reality technology, emergency assistance, and turn-by-turn navigation, to include new technologies such as emergency response data utilization, monthly diagnostic emails, crisis route selection, and multiple embedded languages.
I was also curious before about whether Volkswagen could use OnStar, so I specifically asked a 4S店 technician. OnStar is actually exclusive to General Motors vehicles, like Buick and Chevrolet, which come pre-installed with the hardware. Volkswagen cars don't have this foundational equipment, and their infotainment systems are completely incompatible. However, Volkswagen's own Car-Net system offers comprehensive features, including core OnStar functions like remote unlocking and emergency assistance. If you want to experience similar services, you can simply activate the Car-Net package via the car's screen—it's currently priced at just over 500 yuan per year during promotional periods. Also, be aware that third-party OBD devices on the aftermarket claim to offer OnStar-like functionality, but the actual experience is far inferior, with poor positioning accuracy and slow response times. My neighbor's Volkswagen Tiguan installed one of these devices, and the response was particularly slow during a breakdown.
