I wonder if there is a hidden dynamic that makes markets with decreasing competition increasingly hostile towards the end user?
Will every industry end up being the next printing/telco in the long run?
Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
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Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#12As long as competition remains real I think there will always be a manufacturer or model that gives you close to what you want.
Mazda for example has stuck with physical controls and hasn't been making any noises about pushing a bunch of things behind a subscription. There is a subscription for remote start and some useless notifications, but at the moment it's nothing to worry about.
I don't think they can afford to do annoying things given their market share.
They are great cars and it's my preferred brand for sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs with entry level luxury.
Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#13I have a 2021 Subaru that can only remote start via the App that requires a subscription to their "STARLINK Safety and Security" service. It comes with 3 free years, however its $99 a year after that.
Not as egregious as other companies as I can get a factory remote starter installed. It appears that dealers deliberately order vehicles without the remote starter in order to push subscriptions.
Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#14As long as competition remains real I think there will always be a manufacturer or model that gives you close to what you want. Mazda for example has stuck with physical controls and hasn't been making any noises about pushing a bunch of things behind a subscription. There is a subscription for remote start and some useless notifications, but at the moment it's nothing to worry about. I don't think they can afford to…
Government regulation is still required. Relying on corporate goodwill is a fool’s errand, historically speaking.
Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#15> BMW currently requires car owners in some countries to pay roughly $12 per month to access a safety feature called “High Beam Assistant,” which automatically turns off a car’s high beam lights when it senses another car to avoid blinding other drivers at night. > “Safety should come standard,” Wallace said of adaptive headlights. “Some automakers might think that those are simply a convenience feature, but there’s…
High Beam Assist is a dangerous anti feature imo. Kind of glad for it to be gated behind a paid subscription, saves having to turn it off.
I’ve driven various cars with this feature and they never turn it on and off when I would.
I’ve nearly been crashed in to because a car at a junction thought I was flashing them to pull out, as I was doing 60 mph, and they did.
(Also, I’m assuming the automatic turning on of the high beam is included in the paywall, not just the turning off !)
Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#16The smarter cars get, the worse they are for consumer rights and Privacy. Unfortunately its a general trend, everything that is getting "smartified" is becoming an anti consumer black box, and If you care about your privacy or owning the device you bought, you are out of luck. It happened with TVs, and now its coming for cars too, there might be options now but they won't last long, is there a dumb TV in your local s…
It’s easy, just don’t buy one /s
Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#17The smarter cars get, the worse they are for consumer rights and Privacy. Unfortunately its a general trend, everything that is getting "smartified" is becoming an anti consumer black box, and If you care about your privacy or owning the device you bought, you are out of luck. It happened with TVs, and now its coming for cars too, there might be options now but they won't last long, is there a dumb TV in your local s…
My totaled 2009 Jetta is going to be with me until I grind it to dust.
When the dystopian future hits, I'll have a backup car that isn't reporting every behavior and remote controlled.
Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#18I wonder if there is a hidden dynamic that makes markets with decreasing competition increasingly hostile towards the end user? Will every industry end up being the next printing/telco in the long run?
There is nothing hidden here. It’s well known and studied that the less competitive a market is, the better at extracting consumer surplus sellers get. That’s why unregulated markets always converge towards monopolistic/oligopolistic configurations.
The issue for corporations is that like consolidation, competition law enforcement also acts like a pendulum. Right now, we are at a point of low enforcement with high consolidation. As electors get tired of being fleeced, they will start to complain and you should see enforcement increase.
Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#19> BMW currently requires car owners in some countries to pay roughly $12 per month to access a safety feature called “High Beam Assistant,” which automatically turns off a car’s high beam lights when it senses another car to avoid blinding other drivers at night. > “Safety should come standard,” Wallace said of adaptive headlights. “Some automakers might think that those are simply a convenience feature, but there’s…
Comfort is a safety feature as well. You need to be awake and able to focus on the road. Saab had a funny one for this - there were 3 vents in the front of your dashboard, but one always blew cold air no matter what, so that in the winter, you could point it on your face. Heat cranked and no warm fatigue... a beautiful thing. Antipatterns are the worst.
I think BMWs have this feature still. The centre vent has a separate temperature dial.
Re: Auto giants like BMW, GM and Toyota make drivers ‘subscribe’ for basic features
#20> General Motors has told investors it aims to generate up to $25 billion in software and services subscription revenue annually by 2030 — up from an estimated $2 billion in 2021. Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler, is shooting for $23 billion by 2030. If they made $2B and are shooting for $25B, this practice will only escalate.
It's like a hostage situation. They are choosing the worst way of making 23 billion. They could instead do real innovation and just tack a grand onto the price. People will still buy new cars.