Volkswagen Rolls Out New In-Car Assistance System

Baltimore, 08/12/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

Every driver has experienced the confusion of forgetting where they parked their car in a lot, but with Volkswagen's new proprietary in-car assistance system, VW Car-Net, they will be able to quickly regain their bearings using their smartphone. The Last Parked Location function is just one of many features in VW Car-Net geared toward improving convenience and safety with in-car, mobile and web-portal connectivity. Introduced for the 2014 model year, the entire suite of technologies will be offered with a free six-month subscription on select trims of the Volkswagen Passat, Jetta, Tiguan, CC, Beetle and Eos.

Among the intuitive safety and emergency features in VW Car-Net are Automatic Crash Notification, Roadside Assistance and Stolen Vehicle Assistance. When needed, VW Car-Net specialists will handle any transfer to emergency services or dispatch assistance. Parents of young drivers will also appreciate the Boundary Alert notification, which sends a text message or email to the vehicle owner whenever their car is driven outside a predetermined area.

"The new VW Car-Net applications will give Volkswagen drivers peace of mind and more confidence in their vehicles, whether they need help following an accident or just want to check to see if they left their lights on or their doors unlocked," said David Wilson, general manager of Russel Volkswagen, a VW dealer in Baltimore, Md. "Whatever unexpected event happens on the road, Volkswagen owners will be able to get the help they need automatically or at the touch of a button."

VW Car-Net users will benefit from additional convenience features like Remote Vehicle Status, which provides the status of the lights, doors, hood and other vehicle openings, and Service Appointment Scheduling, which connects users with specialists to make appointments with a preferred dealer. Agent Destination Assist will also be included in VW Car-Net at no extra cost, allowing destinations to be sent directly to a model's factory-installed navigation system by either a specialist or the owner through the system's web portal or mobile app.

After the initial six-month trial period, pricing for VW Car-Net will be comparable to other in-car assistance systems on the market. A yearlong subscription will cost $199, with an alternate option to pay a $17.99 monthly fee. Two-year and three-year plans will offer savings by costing $378 and $540, respectively. There will be no extra costs for add-on features, as all are included as standard.

"Instead of relying on generic third-party applications, Volkswagen has made the effort to provide a service that's specifically tailored to VW drivers," added Wilson. "VW Car-Net doesn't put a premium on advanced features like competitors' systems, and it has a broad range of functions that support owners throughout many aspects of their driving and ownership experience."

About Russel Volkswagen:
Committed to building lasting relationships with Volkswagen customers in the Baltimore area one family at a time, Russel Volkswagen backs up its wide inventory of new and used VW vehicles with a no-hassle buying environment. Their team of factory-trained technicians, parts experts and knowledgeable sales professionals goes the distance to ensure every customer experience is a positive one. Visit their Baltimore, Maryland Volkswagen dealership at 6624 Baltimore National Pike for a test drive, or browse their inventory online at www.russelvw.com. They can also be reached by phone at 866-540-5268 and found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RusselVW.