IRVINE, Calif. — Spireon Inc., an aftermarket telematics company with more than 2.5 million connected vehicles on the road, announced the release of Kahu, a new service sold exclusively through used-car dealers that allows customers to link their vehicles to their smartphones.

The Kahu service includes a device that connects with the car’s location and trip data once installed. It then relays all of that information to a user’s smartphone app. The Kahu app then displays real-time vehicle information, providing users with access to theft recovery services, driving alerts and more.

“Kahu is the first aftermarket connected vehicle service available exclusively from car dealers,” said Shawn Hansen, Spireon’s CMO. “The thousands of car dealers that use GoldStar GPS for collateral and lot management can easily add Kahu to increase profits, as well as help any car buyer connect their car to the Internet.”

While most connected car services offered today rely on the user connecting a device into a car’s onboard diagnostics port (OBD-II), which can be easily removed by a thief and sometimes voids car manufacturer warranties, the Kahu device is professionally installed by the car dealer, streamlining the setup process so consumers can simply download the app and connect their smartphone to their car.

They service can also be used by dealers to track and manage inventory. They simply partner with Spireon on a one-time install of the GPS tracking device. Dealers can then sell the Kahu mobile app service as an add-on feature, which company officials said would more than cover the installation of the GPS tracking device.

For consumers, the mobile app offers the following services:

• 24/7 Vehicle Location: The Kahu service is always on, providing quick access to vehicle location through the mobile app.

• Theft Recovery: Kahu will immediately locate a customer’s vehicle if its stolen. It can also alert local law enforcement authorities. According to company officials, the average recovery time of a stolen vehicle is 26 minutes.

• Smart Alerts: Kahu offers a geofencing feature that allows users to enter their vehicle’s location, create a geographic boundary around the vehicle and then receive alerts if the car crosses that boundary. Alerts can also be set for specific speed limits or vehicle issues such as low battery.

• Insurance Discounts: Users can save up to 25% on insurance premiums that offer discounts for cars equipped with theft-recovery devices, according to officials.

For more information, visit www.spireon.com.