BMW is one of several automakers that have been nickel and diming customers, including with a monthly subscription for heated seats in certain models and territories. The company has dropped that controversial practice to focus on paid software services — it doesn't plan to charge drivers extra to use hardware features that are already in their cars anymore.

BMW’s terrible heated seats subscription didn’t even make it to a second winter::BMW is one of several automakers that have been nickel and diming customers, including with a monthly subscription for heated seats in certain models and territories. The company has dropped that controversial practice to focus on paid software services — it doesn’t plan to charge drivers extra to use hardware features that are already in their cars anymore.

  • phoneymouse@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20·
    10 months ago

    It’s a money grab because it doesn’t cost BMW anything additional. They already spent the money to put the heated seats in the car, so anything they gain from the subscription is profit.

    Where subscriptions are justified is when there is an on going service provided that requires maintenance and upkeep on behalf of the service provider. Already installed heated seats don’t meet that standard at all.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      It’s a money grab because it doesn’t cost BMW anything additional. They already spent the money to put the heated seats in the car, so anything they gain from the subscription is profit.

      IBM has been pre-loading hardware with extra gear they can activate on subscription but is otherwise dark, and been making bank on it, for decades.