Matt McGovren and Kit Klein cofounded Miles, a company offering a cellular and GPS-enabled device that connects to a mobile app to provide real-time location, alerts, and driving insights. The Miles Plug connects to a car's OBD-II port to monitor vehicle health, driving habits, and location.
Users can access an AI chatbot called the Miles Mechanic within the app to decode warning lights and estimate repair costs. The device is compatible with some electric vehicles and most gas or hybrid cars manufactured from 2008 onwards.
Pricing for the service includes a $99 initial cost plus $180 for a one-year membership, or a three-year plan for $396 which includes the Plug. McGovren stated, "We built Miles to support teens and parents together, and keep them on the same team."
Parents and teens view the same alerts and trips with nothing hidden, which McGovren says builds trust instead of suspicion. The app contains no advertisements and allows users to delete accounts, stop location collection, or download their data.
All trip and vehicle data is encrypted, with the most sensitive information protected by end-to-end encryption. Location tracking is tied specifically to the car rather than a phone and ceases once the user walks away.
McGovren affirmed that the company will never sell location, trip, or vehicle data. The company offers a 60-day money-back guarantee.
A beta MCP server is available to deliver information to home assistants or an AI of the user's choice. The startup enters a market where Automatic launched a Pro service for $130 in 2016 before shutting down in 2020.
General Motors was previously banned from selling data to brokers for a period of five years.
