OnStar Expands Safety Security Services to RV Industry

TROY, Mich., June 13 /CNW/ -- Recreational vehicle owners will now be able to travel America's highways with OnStar's safety, security and personal calling convenience services. OnStar uses integrated electronic hardware, cellular communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to create and deliver its industry-leading services. OnStar, the vehicle telematics leader in the U.S. automotive industry, has signed a distribution agreement with RiverPark, Inc. of Elkhart, Ind., to work with RV manufacturers (OEMs) in providing its highly recognized safety and security services in motorhomes.

"We are excited about this new business opportunity to expand our service offerings to RV owners," said OnStar President Chet Huber. "Our services are clearly ideal for these travelers -- enabling them to locate everything from campgrounds to points of interest."

RiverPark (www.riverparkinc.com ) was established in 1981 and has become a highly regarded supplier of electronics components and products to the RV industry. "We're thrilled to be delivering OnStar to the RV market," said Steve Bollero, VP of Operations at RiverPark. "OnStar's unparalleled safety and security features, coupled with access to an amazing array of information, will afford motor home owners across the country exceptional convenience simply by pressing the blue OnStar button." In their distributor role, RiverPark will work directly with RV manufacturers to facilitate design and vehicle integration, maintain inventories and process production orders. RiverPark will also provide various levels of product support as they do on other products they distribute.

OnStar's RV Special Edition services, targeted for availability in motorhomes later this year, are provided at the touch of OnStar's three-button system:

* The red emergency button connects with a live OnStar advisor and provides the vehicle's GPS location. The advisor can request emergency/safety/rescue personnel to the vehicle location or direct the driver to a nearby hospital or other emergency service point.

* The blue OnStar button connects with a live advisor and utilizes GPS to help drivers request roadside services, find accommodations, or access information on millions of travel points of interest from OnStar's database.

* The white dot button connects with OnStar Personal Calling, (OPC), a hands-free, voice activated cellular phone that can be used to make a call to third parties. Using OPC, the caller can also access OnStar Virtual Advisor, which forms a bridge to the Internet and provides the caller with local weather and location-based traffic reports.