Who Brands - Brand Ownership DirectoryWho Brands
HomeBrowse BrandsCategoriesCompaniesCompareBlogQuizAbout
HomeBrowse BrandsCategoriesCompaniesCompareBlogQuizAbout
Who Brands

Your trusted reference for brand ownership information. We provide factual, comprehensive data about who owns the brands you know.

Stay in the know

Get the latest ownership updates delivered to your inbox.

Browse

  • All Brands
  • Categories
  • Companies
  • Countries
  • Compare Brands
  • Blog
  • Brand Quiz
  • RSS Feed

Company

  • About Us
  • Methodology
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Submit a Brand
  • List Your Brand
  • Write for Us

Legal

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Disclaimer

Support Us

☕Buy me a coffee

2026 Who Brands. All information is provided for educational purposes. Brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners.

  1. Home
  2. Brands
  3. Automotive
  4. OnStar
OnStar logo
Automotive

Who Owns OnStar?

OnStar is owned by General Motors Company, a publicly traded American automotive manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, trading on NYSE under ticker GM. OnStar launched in 1996 as the industry's first embedded telematics service and reached a record 12 million global subscribers at the end of 2025, including more than 625,000 Super Cruise hands-free driving subscribers and 2 million fleet subscriptions.

Parent Company

General Motors Company

Founded

1996

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Detroit, Michigan, USA

OnStar Timeline

1908
General Motors Company

Parent company established in Detroit, Michigan, USA

Company Founded
1996

OnStar

Founded by General Motors Company

Founded
mid rangemass marketGlobalunisexOfficial Website

Who Owns OnStar?

  • Parent Company: General Motors Company
  • Ownership Type: Wholly owned
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock Ticker: NYSE: GM
BrandParent CompanyOwnership Type
OnStarGeneral Motors CompanyWholly owned

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
AmazonOnStar on Amazon

History of OnStar

  • Founded: 1996
  • Founders: General Motors Company

OnStar debuted at the 1996 Chicago Auto Show and launched commercially on 1997 model year Cadillacs, developed with SBC Communications and Hughes Electronics. It pioneered embedded cellular telematics: a blue button connecting drivers to live advisors for emergency response, roadside assistance, and navigation.

Signature services accumulated over time. Automatic Crash Response notified advisors of collisions without driver action, Stolen Vehicle Assistance helped law enforcement recover vehicles, and Turn-by-Turn Navigation arrived before smartphone maps were common. By the mid-2000s OnStar had millions of subscribers and influenced safety regulations worldwide.

GM expanded OnStar into a software platform in the 2020s. Super Cruise, launched on the 2018 Cadillac CT6 and migrated across the lineup, delivers hands-free highway driving on more than 750,000 mapped miles. OnStar services became bundled with GM's connected vehicle strategy, and the service passed 11 million subscribers in 2025 before closing the year at a record 12 million. Fleet telematics under OnStar Business Solutions doubled competitor scale at 2 million subscriptions.

About General Motors Company

What does General Motors own?
General Motors owns four automotive brands: Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. The company also owns GM Financial (captive finance), Cruise (autonomous vehicles), and OnStar (connected vehicle services). GM operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China (through joint ventures), Brazil, and South Korea. GM previously owned Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, Hummer, and Opel/Vauxhall, all of which were divested or discontinued.

Is General Motors publicly traded?
Yes, General Motors is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker GM. The company relisted on the NYSE in November 2010 following its emergence from bankruptcy in 2009. GM has no controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors. The U.S. government sold its remaining stake in GM in 2013. As of December 31, 2025, the company had 904 million shares outstanding.

What is General Motors' annual revenue?
For fiscal year 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), GM reported revenue of $185.0 billion, down 1.3% from FY2024. EBIT-adjusted was $12.7 billion, at the high end of guidance. Net income was $2.7 billion, reduced by more than $7.2 billion in special charges primarily related to EV capacity realignment. Adjusted EPS was $10.60. The company generated $10.6 billion in adjusted automotive free cash flow.

Who is the CEO of General Motors?
Mary Barra has served as Chairman and CEO since January 2014, making her the first female CEO of a major global automaker. She joined GM in 1980 as a co-op student and rose through the engineering and manufacturing ranks. Under her leadership, GM delivered a 54% total return for shareholders in 2025 and announced a 20% dividend increase and new $6 billion share repurchase authorization for 2026.

What is GM's 2026 guidance?
For 2026, GM projects EBIT-adjusted of $13.0-$15.0 billion, net income of $10.3-$11.7 billion, EPS-diluted of $11.00-$13.00, and adjusted automotive free cash flow of $9.0-$11.0 billion. The company expects North America adjusted profit margins to return to 8-10%, up from 6.8% in 2025. CEO Barra stated that 2026 "should be an even better year for GM."

Who founded General Motors?
General Motors was founded by William Crapo Durant on September 16, 1908, in Flint, Michigan. Durant was a successful carriage manufacturer who had acquired Buick Motor Company in 1904 and used it as the foundation for GM. Alfred P. Sloan Jr. subsequently became the dominant figure in GM's management and is credited with developing the multi-brand strategy.

Where is General Motors headquartered?
General Motors is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The company has been significantly downsizing its headquarters, a move expected to save tens of millions of dollars annually. GM operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Brazil, and South Korea, among other locations.

  • Founded: 1908
  • Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan, USA
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock: NYSE: GM

Visit General Motors Company website

View full company profile for General Motors Company

Where Is OnStar Made / Based?

  • Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan, USA
  • Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Global service centers

OnStar Categories & Tags

Connected CarTelematicsSuper CruiseSafety ServicesSubscription

OnStar Sustainability & Ethics

OnStar services support crash response and stolen vehicle recovery with measurable safety benefits, and fleet telematics helps operators reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Privacy is the brand's central ethics issue: GM settled with the FTC in 2025 over alleged collection and sale of driver location and behavior data to third parties, agreeing to obtain consent and delete previously collected data.

Awards & Recognition

OnStar has been recognized as the foundational automotive telematics service, credited with influencing emergency-call mandates such as Europe's eCall. Super Cruise has won multiple comparison tests against rival hands-free systems, and OnStar surpassed 700 million hands-free Super Cruise miles with no crash attributed to the system.

OnStar Recalls & Controversies

FTC data privacy action (2025): The FTC alleged GM collected and sold precise geolocation and driving behavior data from millions of vehicles to third parties including data brokers, without adequate consent. GM settled, agreeing to a five-year prohibition on certain disclosures and consent requirements. Several states sued separately over the practice.

Brands Owned by General Motors Company

BuickAutomotive

Buick

Owned by General Motors Company

American mid-premium automotive brand owned by General Motors. Founded in 1903, Buick is GM's bridge between mainstream Chevrolet and luxury Cadillac. Buick sells approximately 800,000 vehicles annually in China and over 200,000 in the United States.

mid-premiumautomotiveluxury-vehicles
CadillacAutomotive

Cadillac

Owned by General Motors Company

American luxury automotive brand and division of General Motors, known for premium vehicles and electric vehicle transition.

luxury-carselectric-vehiclesamerican-brand
ChevroletAutomotive

Chevrolet

Owned by General Motors Company

American automotive marque founded in 1911, General Motors' largest brand, producing cars, trucks, and SUVs including Silverado, Equinox, and Corvette.

automakervehiclestrucks
Chevrolet CorvetteAutomotive

Chevrolet Corvette

Owned by General Motors Company

American sports car manufactured by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, since 1953.

sports-caramerican-brandperformance-car
GMAutomotive

GM

Owned by General Motors Company

Flagship corporate brand of General Motors Company, encompassing the GM nameplate, Ultium electric platform identity, and shared technology across its vehicle divisions.

automakercorporate-brandultium
GMCAutomotive

GMC

Owned by General Motors Company

Premium truck and SUV division of General Motors dating to 1912, producing Sierra pickups, Yukon SUVs, the Denali luxury line, and Hummer EV.

truckssuvdenali
View all brands owned by General Motors Company

OnStar Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • +First-mover scale: 12 million subscribers and three decades of operating history
  • +Embedded hardware across all GM vehicles creates default distribution
  • +Super Cruise generates high-margin recurring revenue (~$200M expected 2025)
  • +Safety services provide genuine differentiator versus non-connected rivals

Considerations

  • -Subscription fatigue pressures renewal rates on paid tiers
  • -Data collection practices have drawn privacy criticism and FTC scrutiny of driving-data sharing
  • -Smartphone-based navigation and assistance erode some legacy features' value
  • -GM-only vehicle embedding limits addressable base

Frequently Asked Questions About OnStar

Sources & Further Reading

  • [OnStar Official Website](
  • [General Motors Official Website](
  • [GM Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter](
  • [GM Authority: OnStar Subscription Milestone](
  • [FTC Action on GM Data Sharing](

Competitors to OnStar

No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because OnStaroperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.

Independent Alternatives to OnStar

Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by General Motors Company, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.

HyundaiAutomotive

Hyundai

Owned by Hyundai Motor Group

South Korean automobile manufacturer known for its value proposition, quality improvements, and stylish designs in the global automotive market.

korean-carvalue-brandglobal-automaker
Privately Owned

Hyundai is privately owned, unlike OnStar which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Interstate BatteriesAutomotive

Interstate Batteries

Owned by Interstate Battery System of America

American battery distributor founded in 1952, specializing in automotive, commercial, and consumer batteries, headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

batteriesautomotive-batterieslead-acid-batteries
Privately Owned

Interstate Batteries is privately owned, unlike OnStar which is under a publicly traded parent company.

KiaAutomotive

Kia

Owned by Hyundai Motor Group

South Korean automobile manufacturer known for sporty design and value positioning, part of Hyundai Motor Group.

korean-carvalue-brandsporty-design
Privately Owned

Kia is privately owned, unlike OnStar which is under a publicly traded parent company.

AutoNationAutomotive

AutoNation

Owned by AutoNation, Inc.

America's largest single-brand automotive retailer, operating new-vehicle franchises, collision centers, and service operations under one national banner.

automotive-retailcar-dealershipsautonation
Publicly Traded

AutoNation operates independently without a large parent corporation.

Ironman TiresAutomotive

Ironman Tires

Owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company

Budget tire brand owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company, a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, offering affordable tires for passenger vehicles, light trucks, and commercial vehicles.

tiresbudget-tiresautomotive
Privately Owned

Ironman Tires is privately owned, unlike OnStar which is under a publicly traded parent company.

CarMaxAutomotive

CarMax

Owned by CarMax, Inc.

Consumer-facing used vehicle retail brand of CarMax, Inc., the largest used car retailer in the United States with more than 250 stores nationwide.

used-carsauto-retailcarmax
Publicly Traded

CarMax operates independently without a large parent corporation.

General Motors Company Stock Information

Jobs at General Motors Company

Latest News About OnStar

Related Articles About OnStar

View more articles
The Brands That Defined Each Decade
Generational

The Brands That Defined Each Decade

GM defined the 1950s-70s. IBM ruled the 80s. GE peaked in the 90s. Microsoft dominated the 2000s. Apple conquered the 2010s. Nvidia defines the 2020s at $5.2T. Discover the brands that defined each decade. Explore our database.

Who Brands StaffSep 22, 2026
DecadesHistoryBrand Ownership
The Complete Guide to Automotive Brand Ownership in 2026
Guide

The Complete Guide to Automotive Brand Ownership in 2026

Volkswagen, Toyota, Stellantis, GM, and Geely own hundreds of car brands. Our complete guide to automotive brand ownership maps the entire global industry. Explore our database.

Who Brands StaffMay 12, 2026
AutomotiveVolkswagenToyota
Ford vs GM: Brand Portfolio Differences
Brand Comparisons

Ford vs GM: Brand Portfolio Differences

Ford and General Motors are America's two largest automakers. But their brand portfolios look very different. Here is every vehicle brand each company owns and how their strategies compare in 2026.

Who Brands StaffMar 13, 2026
FordGeneral MotorsAutomotive Brands
View more articles

People Also Searched

Discover popular brands and companies in the Automotive category and related searches from other users.

Abarth
Brandperformance-cars

Abarth

Iconic Italian high-performance automotive brand specializing in sporty variants of Fiat vehicles, known for its racing heritage, distinctive scorpion logo, and recent expansion into electrified performance models.

Brand in Automotive
italian-brandsporty-vehicles
Accelera
Brandzero-emissions

Accelera

Zero-emissions technology brand of Cummins Inc., covering battery-electric powertrains, fuel cells, and electrolyzers under the Destination Zero strategy.

Brand in Automotive
electric-powertrainfuel-cell
Acura
Brandluxury-cars

Acura

Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Honda Motor Company, launched in the United States in 1986. It was the first Japanese luxury automobile brand sold in North America and is currently sold in the USA, Canada, China, and a limited number of other markets.

Brand in Automotive
hondajapanese-brand
Browse All Automotive

Last reviewed: September 25, 2026 · Reviewed by Who Brands Editorial Team