Having your car get broken into is the worst, but soon, you might be able to get a notification warning you that a thief is trying to make it into your vehicle. Well, only if your car is a Chevrolet.
An update to Chevrolet's RemoteLink app allows for Theft Alarm Notifications, letting users know of any attempt to tamper with or steal your car, provided the alarm is activated.
Users of the app will be able to choose between getting a text message, email or even a warning phone call. Chevrolet has offered RemoteLink itself for some time now, however, the company says that as 4G connectivity is included into cars, the app is gaining traction. Because of this, the app will soon do far more than simply warn users of their car being broken into.
Chevrolet's plan includes vehicle monitoring, with the car being able to track the performance of many of its parts. If there is an issue, the car will transmit that data over the Internet and notify users of the issue. The car will even notify users if the battery or fuel pump is likely to start being problematic in the near future.
The new features will be launched in the 2016 versions of the Chevrolet Corvette, Equinox, Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado and Silverado HD. It is also likely that the features will make their way into other Chevy models in coming years.
Of course, Chevrolet isn't the only company baking smart features into its cars. OnStar customers can also opt into getting monthly updates about the health of their car, however, OnStar in general has yet to offer real-time monitoring like Chevrolet is doing with its variation of the RemoteLink app.
The news comes as Chevrolet begins offering smartphone functionality of a different kind in its cars, with the first CarPlay-enabled cars coming off the production line at the company. Apple's CarPlay is essentially Apple's vision of in-car entertainment and navigation, translating the iPhone experience to an in-car touchscreen. Until now, rollout of the infotainment system had been relatively slow, but a number of companies, including Chevrolet, have finally begun adopting the system.
Google also has its own in-car infotainment system, called Android Auto, which is basically Google Now, the virtual assistant found in Android, in a display in the car. This is by no means a bad thing, and it offers a number of voice controls and easy-to-use apps, ensuring that users can keep their mind and focus on what's important — driving.
We will most certainly see more smartphone connectivity with cars in the future, including features related to the car's health and the driving experience.
