Mobile technology big focus for GM North America as it rolls out connected cars

The new president of GM North America says high-speed wireless technology will be a big focus for the car maker this year, as it moves to integrate 4G LTE technology across its 2015 vehicle range.

Alan Batey says the vehicle line that will be on sale by July and August will have all the capabilities of customers’ smartphones, giving GM the ability to connect customers more easily.

The company builds some of its vehicles in Ontario at its Ingersoll, Oshawa and St Catharines’ plants, although the future of those operations remain in question because of the high cost of manufacturing in Canada compared to Mexico and the U.S.

GM Canada president Kevin Williams says the company is looking at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll for next generation products, but hasn’t formally announced whether the new Equinox models will be built there.

The future of GM’s plant in Oshawa, scheduled to close in 2016, also remains unsure.

Williams said GM had no new announcement on its manufacturing plans, but noted the company had made “significant” investments in its Canadian operations over the last few years.