Ford and GM are vying for position in the nascent world of the connected car. GM’s original OnStar system was wholly proprietary, but it now includes the same QNX system Ford reportedly plans to use. GM’s OnStar, launched in 1996, is successful but was positioned as safety technology. GM must shift the message to convey that OnStar also includes infotainment with an app-like interface, says Gartner analyst Thilo Koslowski.
Ford opened a Silicon Valley lab to work with Facebook, Google and Microsoft, while GM created a new Connected Consumer business unit led by a former Dell executive. While the car companies need tech partners, they have to be careful not to give up too much control over the connectivity, Koslowski says.