You vill own nothing und be happy.
German automaker Volkswagen revealed that it will begin charging a subscription fee for drivers who want to gain access to additional horsepower for its electric ID.3 Pro and Pro S in the U.K. - a feature that will cost owners if they wish to access the full capabilities of their vehicle; joining a list of car brands that are levying subscriptions in order to use certain pre-built features.
First reported by Auto Express:
Yes, you read that correctly: while the Volkswagen ID.3 Pro and Pro S are listed on the configurator as producing 201bhp, buyers must pay a subscription fee to reach the car's full potential of 228bhp.
This subscription currently stands at £16.50 per month. That’s almost three times the price of a ‘Standard with Ads’ Netflix subscription – following a one-month free trial – or a total of £165 per year. Owners can also choose to select a lifetime subscription for the grand total of £649, with this being attached to the car rather than the individual, meaning the upgrade will remain if the vehicle is sold on.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen what would happen if an owner were to hack their car – also known as ‘jailbreaking’ – in order to manually switch on the extra power for free. This potentially could invalidate the warranty or even lead to legal action from VW, but Auto Express is waiting to hear back from the firm on this.
I for one will never ever buy a car from a company that treats its customers this way.
If it's installed and I can't use it without a subscription that's an automatic no for that brand or car. I bought it, I own it. That means I can use everything, fix it myself, and don't have to pay a penny after the sale.
ReplyDeleteThis is what farmers deal with when they buy John Deere equipment. Last fall a neighbor had a tech sit in his combine for nine hours to try to correct a defect in the DEF program. It worked for a half hour and then went back to failure. Later he found that he could have had the program deleted by an independent mechanic for about one third of what the tech cost to fail at his job.
DeleteOr charge an enormous subscription fee to use their new "see and spray" when other ag companies offer a similiar system using open sourced software for free.
Delete-lg
Several years back read an article on how there's a huge market for older farm equipment due to this JD crap.
DeleteThey kind of all do already.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, the different levels of windshield wiper sophistication does not reside in the hardware. The hardware is all the same. The difference is in the software "DIP" switches that are set during the final programming steps in the factory.
Tooling different hardware costs a lot of money. Setting flags in the software is free.
Offering a vehicle that *appears* to be completely stripped of features allows the manufacturer to advertise a low MSRP (like the elusive $24k Camry that is sold on The Price is Right) but the high cost of the "options" is where they make their money since only a few fleets will actually order el strippo cars or work trucks. The features are there but have not been turned on.
"Board Member Admits They'll Make More Money"
ReplyDeleteHow much do you make if you don't sell any cars, Hermann?
Hitler’s Folk Wagon lives up to its origin.
ReplyDeleteVW is a cheating company, they cheated on emissions, the will cheat the customer.
ReplyDeleteVW didn't cheat anything. They had the superior TDi that makes all electric devices look foolish by comparison. Also about to release a diesel electric hybrid easily surpassing 100mpg.
DeleteThere is your "cheat"
They were fined billions for harming nobody, and executives frog marched straight to prison.now transformed into another woke car brand..
Got that right. The pedo-sonsofabiatchez want to rule in entirety everything on this planet, eventually getting to definite depopulation schemes, they want only about 750 million left alive, enough slaves for caretaking and other labors, to create their garden planet.
ReplyDeleteScrew them.
I believe others are doing this as well such as BMW for "features like heated seats, remote engine start, or enhanced navigation". I think they do it as well for car navigation/Android/Apple integration (but I could be wrong).
ReplyDeleteAt some point, someone will hack this. I'm sure the cars will long be out of warranty so what are they going to do about it?
I have 2025 BMW 5 Series. I lease it. All the features are included for the length of the lease. Pro Tip: never BUY a BMW especially a used one. The subscription features will be the least of your headaches.
DeleteWhom do they think they are? Microsoft?
ReplyDeleteI believe BMW is now charging for add-ons for specific items on all vehicles. With all vehicles having programming it may lead to various brands start charging to make extra money. Eventually this will lead to certain people to sell service to modify the vehicle.
ReplyDeleteThey have been dead for years, nothing in the least bit exciting or innovative minus maybe the GolfR. Ferdinand Piëch will be missed. They need fewer 4cylinders and more 6's and 8's, fewer government regulations.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any subscriptions except Amazon Prime, which pays for itself, and Paramount+. If buy something, it is MINE. Won't touch a "subscription" car.
ReplyDeleteTheir vehicles have been garbage for at least the last fifteen years. I had an ‘03, Passat GLS with the 1.8T and that car drive drove like a top for 267k! The only reason I had to get another car is because the Passat was destroyed in an accident.
ReplyDeleteI am getting an ‘80s S class next year. The only electronics are in the radio and I can fix it with basic hand tools. Al_in_Ottawa
ReplyDelete"Owners can also choose to select a lifetime subscription for the grand total of £649, with this being attached to the car rather than the individual, meaning the upgrade will remain if the vehicle is sold on."
ReplyDeleteUntil they decide to change it in about four years.
I have an 18 Audi 2.0L in a Q3 that has been computer bumped about 40 hp with the turbo settings. If you can keep your foot out of it the gas mileage will be just over 30mpg.
ReplyDelete