OnStar rearview mirror for non-GM vehicles will go on sale
Starting this weekend, drivers can replace their rearview mirrors with ones that have an OnStar communication system built in, even if they don’t drive vehicles made by General Motors Co.
Once the OnStar FMV goes on sale at Best Buy stores Sunday, the OnStar service will no longer be exclusive to GM cars and trucks with built-in OnStar devices.
The FMV — which stands for “for my vehicle” — is an aftermarket rearview mirror that can be installed in 90 million vehicles from automakers such as Toyota, Ford, Honda and Nissan.
First announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, the $299.99 device will cost $75 to install. Service plans start at $18.95 a month or $199 a year. The product soon will also be available at Fry’s Electronics and other retailers.
The system has the same core features as OnStar systems built into GM vehicles. For example, using hands-free, voice-activated calling, drivers can ask dispatchers at GM’s OnStar unit for directions, which are then downloaded to the vehicle and read aloud by the device. If a built-in accelerometer detects a crash, the system will automatically call OnStar to send emergency help.
