What started out nearly 19 years ago as a way for drivers to quickly and efficiently relay their symptoms in the event of an accident has evolved into a popular concierge-like service. OnStar recently topped 1 billion interactions.

OnStar has fielded more than 1 billion requests from customers, who interact by phone, mobile app or embedded cellular service in their cars and trucks.

“OnStar created the original connected car in 1996 and today remains at the forefront of innovation through the services offered in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and soon, Opel vehicles around the globe,” said Alicia Boler-Davis, senior vice president, General Motors Global Connected Customer Experience.

Here is how OnStar’s 1 billion interactions break down:

• 5.5 million Emergency Services delivered, including when Bernadette Holzer was driving her Chevrolet Equinox in Tionesta, Penn., triggering an Automatic Crash Response and OnStar’s Crisis Assist service helping Jacqueline Teeters avoid a tornado while driving from Houston to Dallas.
• 156 million RemoteLink Mobile App requests, including Tysha Gill unlocking her car from her smartphone when her keys were locked inside.
• More than 270 million Turn-by-Turn Navigation requests, including helping Diana Richard find a gas station late at night when she was traveling from Virginia to Ohio.
• Delivered Roadside Assistance more than 3.9 million times, including bringing gas to Lixi Cacho who was stranded in a remote area
• More than 800,000 Good Samaritan calls, including Tyler Andrews from Dallas being named OnStar’s “Good Samaritan of the Year” for helping an unresponsive motorist.
• More than 390 million Vehicle Diagnostic reports delivered, including helping Debbie Yaeger and her 9-year-old daughter on a drive from Florida to Ohio.
• More than 350 stolen vehicles slowed down. Mississippi State Senator Terry Burton used Stolen Vehicle Assistance to recover his stolen Chevrolet Impala.

OnStar has even helped deliver babies and works with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

Today, OnStar today responds to more than 100,000 emergency calls every month.

 

OnStar services include OnStar 4G LTE, a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot inside properly equipped 2015 and newer model year vehicles. More than 1 million Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles on the road in the U.S. and Canada have OnStar 4G LTE. The service will be available in China and Europe later this year.