BMW Commits To Subscriptions Even After Heated Seat Debacle
- Reference: 0180732430
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/02/05/0036222/bmw-commits-to-subscriptions-even-after-heated-seat-debacle
- Source link:
A company spokesperson told The Drive that BMW "remains fully committed" to ConnectedDrive as part of its global aftersales strategy. Features requiring data connectivity will likely carry recurring fees.
[1] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/23/09/07/1545202/bmw-drops-controversial-heated-seats-subscription-to-refocus-on-software-services
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/22/07/12/1616236/bmw-starts-selling-heated-seat-subscriptions-for-18-a-month
[3] https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmw-commits-to-subscriptions-even-after-heated-seat-debacle
New Subscription - only $149.99/month (Score:3)
For a Beemer, it's the Pretentious Dickbag Subscription. For another $799.99/month, we'll put a middle finger where the turn signals would normally be.
Re: (Score:2)
But only the left turn signal. For the right turn signal, something special...
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Fuxury
Not only BMW (Score:2)
This abuse is a direct consequence of connected cars. Lexus (Toyota) is charging subscription to use in-dash GPS. They hide it behind giving away 1 year trial, so if you go to test drive one you might not even know that such feature is a subscription.
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And, right there, you find the real reason so many manufacturers are no longer offering CarPlay and Android Auto.
If you use either of those third-party services, you'll find you don't have much need for the manufacturer-provided network connection, GPS maps, road condition reports, local speed limit info, etc. etc.
The lever you have pulled--brakes-- Is not in paid (Score:2)
The lever you have pulled--brakes-- Is not in paid for.
First you pay, then you pay and pay and pay again. (Score:2)
This is just "rent-seeking". The only way to win is not to play.
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> "This is just "rent-seeking". The only way to win is not to play."
Don't buy any modern vehicle with advanced tech, then. They pretty much all do this now with advanced connected services. My vehicle came with 3 years included of the most advanced services (like ProPilot 2, traffic data, weather feeds, etc), and 5 years of basic services (like map updates, nav data, remote app unlock/find/climate start, stats on charging/tire pressures/etc). After that period, one must purchase a plan or those particu
Ahh! (Score:2)
This explains why BMW drivers don't indicate when changing lanes or turning: they haven't paid their subscription fee for the indicators.
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Meme: Blinkers Might Work. Direct experience: Burned More Wiring.
Means some asshole high up... (Score:2)
... has made this their pet-project. And now nobody dares to tell them that it is hurting the enterprise. Enshittification at work.
As someone who can afford a BMW (Score:2)
That's gonna be a big nope for me. Vote with your wallet.
Duh (Score:2)
> "Features requiring data connectivity will likely carry recurring fees."
Duh. That is not controversial. ALL the manufacturers do that. Map updates, cellular data service, road condition and construction overlays, semi-autonomous driving liability, etc, are legit continuous costs and effort by the manufacturer, and that is understandable.
That is COMPLETELY different for charging for heated seats, in which the owner already has the hardware, and there is no software updating, no services provided, and
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I assume they get the traffic and maps from Google, or whoever Google gets it from. Why wouldn't I just get it for free from them?
That Slate truck is starting to look really nice. No screens, no apps, except the ones I choose to add. If network connectivity is totally absent from the vehicle, I might even buy one.
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> "I assume they get the traffic and maps from Google, or whoever Google gets it from."
Not in my vehicle. Regardless, the manufacturer typically has to pay for all the data on mapping, geo, traffic, weather, conditions, etc data. That is probably also true even for Google's data. Corporate use like that for resale isn't the same as just using it on a personal phone. Plus they are paying for the wireless mobile data connection to get some of that into your vehicle in real-time.
> "Why wouldn't I just
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And what makes you believe BMW ConnectedDrive doesn't track and sell you?
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> "And what makes you believe BMW ConnectedDrive doesn't track and sell you?"
What makes you believe I don't think that? In fact, I am pretty sure they, too sell such data. (If they don't, others do). Not sure that would be enough to pay for the services, however. But that is a good point :)
Re: Duh (Score:2)
Mercedes and Tesla use Google data, but I don't think BMW does. Not sure who they use.
Heaters legislative compromise (Score:2)
You can turn on the heaters for free, but to turn it off you have to pay.
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MercedesBenz had mirrors with heating that was always on.If you didn't drive for 2 weeks, the battery would be empty.
When subscriptions are good ideas. (Score:4, Insightful)
If it costs your companies money to provide the service every month, then it is a good idea to charge a subscription for the service.
If it is costs you nothing to provide the 'service', then you are a scum sucking thieving bastard that is trying to rip off your customers.
Example1: To print a magazine every month and deliver it, costs you money: SUBSCRIPTION.
Example 2: To let them use something they already bought: NO SUBSCRIPTION.
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Right before you shake on a deal, start to walk away unless they remove the fee.
It makse sense... (Score:3)
Charging ongoing money for features that have ongoing costs (such as costs for cellular data connectivity, costs for the work to keep maps up-to-date, costs for licensing media, costs to improve software etc) makes sense and I am OK with it.
Charging ongoing money for something that doesn't have ongoing costs (like the heating elements built into the car at the factory that should never need to be touched for the life of the car) does not.
Nope and Nope (Score:2)
I don't ever want a car that requires a constant connection to the cloud, for whatever bullshit reason anyone comes up with. Paying a monthly fee for something I already own. Well fuck you. Looks like the remainder of my life will be filled with used cars from ~2000 to ~2018.
Features requiring data connectivity is reasonable (Score:2)
Subscriptions for features requiring data connectivity is completely reasonable.
Subscriptions for features already built into your car, like heated seats and adaptive cruise control, are not reasonable.
Explain (Score:2)
> Features requiring data connectivity will likely carry recurring fees.
... how keeping my ass warm requires an Internet connection.
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Easy. Such heavy load has to be distributed.
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> Easy. Such heavy load has to be distributed.
And you know what happens when you can’t pay, a distributed denial of service.