Vehicle telematics In commercial usage, telematics is usually synonymous with vehicle telematics. The automotive industry uses telematics to describe onboard communications services and applications. Cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles use GPS receivers and telematics devices installed in each vehicle. Technologies that can support vehicle telematics include the following: Fleet telematics. Fleet telematics refers to the use of telematics to manage and monitor commercial vehicle operations, locations and status. Fleet telematics systems enable the exchange of information between a central location and individual vehicles in the fleet, which can include trucks, ambulances, municipal vehicles, school buses and others. GPS. GPS tracking and other wireless communications serve as the medium for transmitting information to and from a vehicle's computerized systems. This enables services such as GPS navigation, roadside assistance, remote diagnostics and fleet management. General Motors first popularized automotive telematics with its OnStar system. Wireless. Wi-Fi and cellular networks -- such as 4G LTE or 5G -- could also facilitate communication between vehicles and applications or services. Faster wireless networks can enable more advanced onboard services, such as vehicle firmware updates -- a task that may have previously required a visit to a car dealership -- multiuser Wi-Fi hotspots and streaming video for passengers.