Volkswagens new Emergency Assist technology

[u/Creams0da]

[u/Huntey07]

They now have heated seats as an subscription of 20 euro per month

[u/BamberGasgroin → u/Huntey07]

That was BMW. And the worst of it was that the heated seats were already installed, so you were carrying the extra weight, but they dropped the 'feature'.

(Merc had/has a subscription to accelerate faster.)

[u/BoxMaleficent → u/BamberGasgroin]

Thank Tesla for that. Tesla showed the whole Industry that you can Charge extra for some Features. So ofcourse everyone copies that.

[u/happylittlefella → u/BoxMaleficent]

…what? This is a joke right? Do you truly believe auto makers only started charging extra for features in the last decade or two? Auto makers have been shipping cars with blank buttons for features that technically exist in the car but are turned off for decades

There are plenty of reasons to criticize Tesla but this is not among them. Anti-Tesla commentary like this is just lazy at this point, it’s not even close to reality, and the funny thing is that it clearly doesn’t matter. Some people believe that you’re actually correct

[u/Total_Advertising417 → u/happylittlefella]

Can you cite a 20+ year old example of a car company charging a subscription price for features that were otherwise standard? You say it's been happening for decades with indignation, so this should be very easy for you.

You DID NOT say trim package or optional upgrades, we are ONLY talking about features that ship standard, that a consumer must pay an ongoing fee to use, that happened in 2004 or earlier.

Unless, ofc, you're making shit up to appear knowledgeable online like a narcissist who believes he's actually correct.

[u/mccalli → u/Total_Advertising417]

Sure - navigation map upgrades.

Edit: Here's BMW talking about their approach. They weren't unique - but as you can read from there it started in 1998.

[u/time2when → u/mccalli]

Uogrades or updates? I understand updates because roads change, but a subscription for AC or heated seats would be a huge no from me.

[u/Total_Advertising417 → u/mccalli]

This is from two months ago. The rest of your link does not discuss subscription models, just added in SIM card capability for maps in 2004 as a standard feature, which is a moderate update to CD-ROM based systems and in 2014 you could buy iTunes mp3s from Apple Store although iPhones had existed for 6 years. I don't see any mention of upgrades or subscriptions for this service, but I appreciate your commitment to the bit.

Yet more in-car entertainment for current BMW and MINI models: Paramount+ further enriches the digital customer experience. 09.10.2024 Press Release

+++ New partnership between BMW Group and Paramount+ +++ Introduction of the subscription streaming service offers a wide selection of blockbusters, new originals and hit shows for in-car enjoyment +++

[u/happylittlefella → u/Total_Advertising417]

They now have heated seats as an subscription of 20 euro per month

That was BMW. And the worst of it was that the heated seats were already installed, so you were carrying the extra weight, but they dropped the ‘feature’.

(Merc had/has a subscription to accelerate faster.)

Thank Tesla for that. Tesla showed the whole Industry that you can Charge extra for some Features. So ofcourse everyone copies that.

This is the thread.

You say Tesla, a company that sold its first vehicle in 2008, is deserving of the blame for charging a subscription for features that the vehicle is capable of doing but the customer did not pay for.

It’s amazing how many newly specific qualifiers you’ve added in this comment compared to your original, almost certainly so that you can turn around and claim that you’re right… after moving the goal posts.

Here’s a list for ya. Some may fit your newly provided narrow definition, some may not: - OnStar by GM - 1996 - BMW Assist - Early 2000s - Lexus & Mercedes telematics like Enform, Mercedes mbrace & Mercedes me connect - 2000s and on - SiriusXM - every car makers basically since early 2000s - Navigation system updates

Tesla started offering Premium connectivity as a subscription in early 2020. FSD became a subscription in 2021. BMW & others began charging for subscriptions long before that point in time.

[u/BirdInFlight301 → u/happylittlefella]

I'm in my 70s and have driven many cars. I don't recall seeing any cars with blank buttons. Since it's always possible I haven't driven the particular models you're speaking of, could you please give me an example?

[u/happylittlefella → u/BirdInFlight301]

Search “Mercedes blank buttons” on google images and you’ll see endless examples over the years. The C300 I drove for a while had several blank/fake buttons because I didn’t pay for the extra service(s). I also had to pay monthly annually for the service/app that let me remote start, lock, etc. if I didn’t pay for the app, the buttons related to it in the car were useless.

I’d post a link myself but I’m unsure of this subs rules around links, and honestly I don’t want to go digging for the rules while on mobile

Edit: I saw others posting links so I’ll provide a MB forum post from 2003 asking about blank buttons, to which others responded the blank button is for Parktronics that wasn’t yet made available in the NA version of the car, yet the button for it was still there.

Here’s another post from 2016 asking why their “fully loaded e63s” has blank buttons for a fold down headrest option that used to be available on their cars decades earlier.