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OnStar opening API to mobile app developers

RelayRides car-sharing service is the first in line to develop for GM's newly opened OnStar app API.

Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
Antuan Goodwin
2 min read
OnStar API graphic
OnStar is giving selected app developers access to its API for OnStar products and vehicles. OnStar/GM

LAS VEGAS--Ford, BMW, and Toyota have them. Now, OnStar is the next in line to take a stab at the development of in-car apps.

At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, the General Motors-owned telematics provider announced that it is selecting developers to be given access to an OnStar API for the creation of vehicle-specific and vehicle-safe apps for future OnStar-equipped vehicles.

"We want to give people 1,001 reasons to keep their OnStar subscription active," said Eric Litt, chief information officer at OnStar. "We feel that opening up our proprietary API to developers will ensure that OnStar continues to keep customers connected in ways they never thought possible."

RelayRides app
RelayRides is the first in line to develop an app that takes advantage of the newly opened API. OnStar/GM

The first app partner to be announced was RelayRides, a peer-to-peer car-sharing service that allows users to rent out their personal vehicles via the Web. With its new hook into the OnStar API, RelayRides users will be able to take advantage of remote features to, for example, unlock a reserved car with a smartphone app. Likewise, OnStar's location awareness, vehicle recovery, and roadside assistance features should help RelayRides to avoid the pitfalls of other less-successful car-sharing services.

OnStar will make its closed API available in the first half of 2012. Developers interested in the API should contact OnStar at developers@onstar.com.

I'll be interested to see what other app developers come onboard in the coming months and what interesting uses for OnStar's feature set they can find. We'll be bringing you more information about the API and future OnStar apps as this story develops. In the meantime, sound off in the comments with your ideas for cool in-car apps and stay tuned to our continuing coverage of CES 2012.