The system, which includes a high-speed 4G LTE mobile network, emergency response notification and stolen vehicle recovery technology, is available free of charge for the first year and is being made available on selected models from August – the Astra will be the first all-new model gaining the technology.

Under the service, users can use the Onstar buttons – located in the overhead centre console or the rear-view mirror on some cars – to access advisors 24/7 and 365 days a year based at the OnStar European headquarters in Luton in the UK.

If an airbag deploys, OnStar will be alerted automatically and an advisor will then contact the vehicle to determine whether help is required. If there is no response, emergency services are immediately sent to the vehicle.

The new system also includes roadside assistance services as well as stolen vehicle assistance.

And Smartphone users will be able to connect to their vehicle remotely with the OnStar smartphone app enabling them to access services including contacting OnStar from anywhere, checking on vehicle data such as oil life or tyre pressure, remotely locking or unlocking the car and locating the car online.

OnStar can also provide subscribers with a monthly vehicle diagnostics email with the most important vehicle data and information. And a diagnostics check can be requested at any time at the push of a button.

The technology also enables equipped vehicles to become a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to seven devices.

OnStar will be available in 13 markets across Europe, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, with a team of multi-lingual staff ready to help drivers.

“OnStar is a staple of people’s motoring lives in North America, China and Mexico and is now taken for granted by those who own GM products,” said Jon Hyde, Director, Global Expansion at General Motors. “In total, seven million GM customers benefit from OnStar currently, so we’re confident that this technology will become invaluable for buyers of Vauxhall products."