Oh yea... THIS makes me want to buy a GM car!

[CoolBreeze]

Car Payment Or Else: Engine Shut Off Systems. They Know If You've Paid Your Bill.

With consumer credit ratings plummeting, more American car owners could soon be driving around with an electronic Big Brother on board.

Business is booming for makers of shut-off devices, which turn engines off when car payments are late. Sales at one manufacturer, Littleton, Colo.-based Passtime, are up 33 percent over last year. CEO Stan Schwarz says the company is cranking up production to meet the demand.

"Right now, we are moving about 2,000 units a month into the marketplace," Schwarz says. "I fully expect by the end of the year we will be up to 14,000 to 15,000 a month,"

While the devices have mostly been used in the subprime auto loan market, other lenders are looking closely at the technology, manufacturers say. It's no mystery why interest in the gadgets soaring: the creditworthiness of American consumers is declining as they lose jobs in record numbers and find it harder to tap into home equity.

The devices, which are required by a growing number of subprime loan contracts, are the product of a revolution in telematics -- the blending of telecommunications and wireless technology.

The devices are usually controlled remotely by the dealer or lender and are linked to the vehicle's powertrain. They usually cut out the power several days after the payment is due. Before the deadline, the driver is treated to a concert of tones and flashing indicators signaling that the deadline is approaching. There are also warnings after the deadline has passed.

The products also include global positioning, or GPS, to speed up the repossession of the vehicle, if necessary. Numerous safeguards are built-in, the manufacturers say. The devices won't shut down the engine while the vehicle is moving, and consumers can extend the car's operation in an emergency.


General Motors has introduced a feature using similar technology that enables law enforcement to track a fleeing car and slow it gradually to idling speed when the situation warrants.

GM recently introduced its "Stolen Vehicle Slowdown," as an option on a number of models, including the Cadillac Escalade and the Chevrolet Silverado. The automaker is in the process of making it available on all its model lines.

If the vehicle is stolen, customers call OnStar, and its staff locates the vehicle using a GPS device and then gives police the location, says James Kobus, a communications manager at the company. "If the police start closing in, and they notify us that the conditions are right, we can slow that vehicle down." A light on the instrument panel signals "Engine Power Is Reduced" and the car idles down to about three miles per hour.

http://autos.aol.com/article/engine-shut-off-systems

[cgarison]

If the vehicle is stolen, customers call OnStar, and its staff locates the vehicle using a GPS device and then gives police the location, says James Kobus, a communications manager at the company.

And the GPS satellites start plummeting back to earth next year with no signs of replacement in sight. Great technology GM!