OnStar and an insurance company called Progressive recently announced the latest developments in creepy connected driving. Available soon on certain GM vehicles, OnStar will be able to track and record your driving behaviour and then share that information with Progressive, who may (or may not) offer you a discount based on your driving.
From the Detroit News:
General Motors Co.’s OnStar subsidiary will offer motorists a new service this summer that gives feedback on their driving skills and allows some to seek driving-based discounts from Progressive insurance.
OnStar, which provides emergency, security and embedded Wi-Fi connectivity services to 7 million subscribers in North America and China, will allow U.S. customers to enroll in a driving assessment. After 90 days, OnStar technology that connects with the vehicle will tell customers how they performed in certain driving metrics, comparing them against an aggregate of other enrolled customers and offering individualized driving tips.
It’s tempting to put on my anti-GM hat and damn them for being evil overseers, but GM are just one of many. The ‘connected car’ is on its way. GM are just a little ahead of the pack.
Google have had their self-driving vehicles in testing for years. Audi sent an automated, self-driving A7 from San Francisco to Las Vegas earlier today and they say they could potentially launch a self-driving model as early as next year. Volvo are working feverishly on cars that will be able to talk to one another about road hazards.
Doesn’t it feel a little creepy, though?
The idea of having Mr OnStar looking over your shoulder like a silent back-seat driver is not at all appealing. The idea of getting driving tips from Mr OnStar, who can’t see the wandering pedestrian or the panicking pet dog that caused you to swerve is a little annoying. The idea of an insurance company using this information to categorise you is more than just a little bit Orwellian.
How long until this is standard and they use it against you?
How long will it take for some company to sell your driving information to Mr Google, who then plasters your regular routes with targeted advertising via electronic billboards as you approach them? I love Alfa Romeos, but I don’t want to see ads that focus on my likes EVERYWHERE I GO.
It’s creepy.
Sadly, it seems inevitable.
Again, from the Detroit News:
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners says usage-based insurance is set for rapid growth in the U.S. It cites experts that predict up to 20 percent of U.S. vehicle insurance will use some type of usage-based metrics within five years.
It gets pitched as providing a service to the customer. In this case, the bait is an insurance discount. Of course, it’s really all about opening up new revenue streams.
GM has said it sees many opportunities to boost revenue through connected vehicles by working with other companies in areas such as helping customers access fuel, parking, travel or hotel information. Some industry analysts see OnStar as a revenue boon for GM. In 2013, IHS Automotive estimated 4G LTE could add $400 million gross profit to GM by mid-decade.
As with Facebook, you can be offered products as you use it but in reality, you are the product.
I’m not one of the tinfoil hat brigade, but I do enjoy the comfort and character of older cars. The fact that they’re free of most of this electronic tomfoolery is just a bonus.