Added BMW to my vendor shitlist.
It wasn't already?
BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
31–40 of 351 posts
Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#32I remember reading an interview with BMW designer that the obnoxiously huge front grills are a nod to the Chinese customers. Chinese customers wanted the drivers in front of them to feel intimidated, as if the car and driver behind wanted to eat them. Other premium brands like Lexus followed with this trend.
Makes me want to get a trailer hitch and do some brake checks.
A nice old Range Rover or even better, a Lada Niva are probably great for that
Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#33BMW is on their way out. They have really lost their way. This is what happens when you move away from focusing on the product/craftsmanship and let bean counters in control.
Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#34BMW is the most user-hostile car brand there is. They’re constantly seeking ways to squeeze revenue from their owners in slimy ways.
(They charge an annual fee for access to car play, for instance)
Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#35Would this not be misuse of PII? You own a particular vehicle registration mark as much as you own a particular phone number, and both can reasonably be used to identify an individual (motor database verus telephone database).
You probably waived through all of that on GDPR consent page of your BMW app.
Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#36In my circle (relatively young and educated people in a 2nd world country) Tesla has completely supplanted BMW et al as 'the exclusive car brand'.
Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
License plate is I guess PII. Something public doesn't stop it to be PII, like IP addresses.
I don't think the plate itself is PII, like "158.32.44.25" isn't PII. Tying that to a person is what's PII.
It should be PII, otherwise I can put cameras all over the city, log license plates, and sell service for you to query.
I think PII according to GDPR is something you can go back to identify a person.
Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#38Last time I brought a used car ( from a dealership) , and was immediately inundated with dozens of extended warranty sales calls.
I can't imagine this will be anything positive. Give it a decade and other advertisers will open the gate. File for divorce and dating ads will spam you at an intersection.
Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#39Re: BMW to shame out-of-warranty UK drivers with smart billboards
#40I remember reading an interview with BMW designer that the obnoxiously huge front grills are a nod to the Chinese customers. Chinese customers wanted the drivers in front of them to feel intimidated, as if the car and driver behind wanted to eat them. Other premium brands like Lexus followed with this trend.
Makes sense seeing more and more companies taking china’s market more seriously given opportunity. In 10 years or less China will be the next global hegemony, especially if USD looses its reserve status.
Tangentially related to the comment, but seeing more evidence of companies positioning themselves for such a transition.