General Motors' OnStar service, a global positioning system, currently finds between 700-800 per month cars per month in the United States. But with a recently announced the upgraded system OnStar will be able to slowly halt a vehicle that's been reported stolen.
The new system will work, according to Chet Huber, OnStar president, when police are notified by OnStar that a vehicle has been stolen. If a police officer notices a stolen vehicle being driven they will notify an OnStar operator who will send a car a signal via cellphone to slow it to a stop.
"This technology will basically remove the control of the horsepower from the thief, Huber told Associated Press. "Everything else in the vehicle works. The steering works. The brakes work."
According to the AP report, GM is considering the possibility of the OnStar system providing a verbal warning before it stops a car from moving. A voice would inform the driver that the police will stop the car. Additionally, the vehicle's flashers would go on.
OnStar is currently available on most of 2008 GM vehicles and includes one year of free service. Subsequent service is $16.95 per month or $199 annually for the basic service, which will include the upgrade system when it becomes available.
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