https://newatlas.com/automotiv...ubscription-options/

BMW to start charging a monthly fee for some options like enhanced cruise control, heated seats, and more.
If I read the story right it is cheaper to build the cars with all the same hardware and collect fees if the owner wants to use said options. Sounds like Tesla is already doing this.
Interesting concept but is it workable.

It’ll backfire. They were charging a subscription for Carplay and ended up making it free. I understand it might make it easier at production but they need to charge a flat fee.

Hope their programmers and lawyers up their game. I know Tesla doesn’t like it when people hack their cars.

This will kill BMW for me probably.

Haha, not a chance. I think the only thing they're going to find out is that a whole bunch of those options are a lot more optional if people have to pay a subscription for them.

I wonder what the plan is for when they put the expensive normally optional hardware on every vehicle and owners opt not to subscribe to a large portion of those options?

Particularly with BMW, Mercedes, and LORD with Porsche I believe the options are operating at a much larger profit margin than the base as a percentage. In the case of Porsche where you can easily option-up a car by 25-50% beyond based without breaking a sweat the margin in total is actually greater. Supposedly.

It is more efficient to build cars one way. I wouldn't want the heated seats or any of that. But I'm sure the aftermarket programmers will easily find a way to unlock all of those features.

ME: Hmmm, I have to drive across the country, I think I'll rent the adaptive driving.

BMW: Great! Come on in and we'll enable it. It also comes with the 18"rims and low profile tires...

Me: I don't want that, I just need adaptive cruise.

BMW: It's part of the package. You also get adaptive rain wipers! But it deletes Nav.

Me: Wha...

BMW: But for another $500, we can add that back in!

Me: I'll take my Ford, thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
Particularly with BMW, Mercedes, and LORD with Porsche I believe the options are operating at a much larger profit margin than the base as a percentage. In the case of Porsche where you can easily option-up a car by 25-50% beyond based without breaking a sweat the margin in total is actually greater. Supposedly.

No shidtola, ordering the Porsche was a full day of selecting or de-selecting items.

Sooo herrr schmidt vould you like aluminum or steel seet frames ya?, ok Aluminum, now carbon fiber seat buttons, aluminum or plastic ya?, ok Carbon, now carpet fibers.........

quote:

Sounds like Tesla is already doing this.

They are indeed. I find it to be total bullshit. Did you know Tesla can and will turn off any features they want, at any time? Features like Supercharging that are critical to you being able to complete a road trip. They can also completely shut down the car if they deem you to have performed service on said vehicle by yourself and not an authorized Tesla station. Right to repair is very important, so is being able to own "features", not rent them.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

It is more efficient to build cars one way.

It is interesting that you would say that. Do you have much experience in automobile manufacturing?

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Sooo herrr schmidt vould you like aluminum or steel seet frames ya?, ok Aluminum, now carbon fiber seat buttons, aluminum or plastic ya?, ok Carbon, now carpet fibers.........

Loser. You left off the Alcantara vents with body-color-keyed surrounds.

I see a new business in hacking these systems.

People have learned how to hack computers to totally remap everything to change performance.

Ah, the "Games as a service" model (you don't own it, you're merely borrowing it from us). I guess it was only a matter of time since so many automobile "features" are electric/software based.

With wireless networks becoming so mainstream it makes sense it would trickle down to virtually any tech with a receiver.

I can see heart transplants in the future being a subscription service as well, LOL. Oh you didn't renew your subscription in time, your heart will stop beating in three days.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Sooo herrr schmidt vould you like aluminum or steel seet frames ya?, ok Aluminum, now carbon fiber seat buttons, aluminum or plastic ya?, ok Carbon, now carpet fibers.........

Loser. You left off the Alcantara vents with body-color-keyed surrounds.

Schwein~! you vill not get out of the proper order und de process, now sit der un answer these as I ask, or face the firing squad un der oil change depatment, ya vol!

Now ver were ve..... oh ya.... carpet fibers....

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

It is more efficient to build cars one way.

It is interesting that you would say that. Do you have much experience in automobile manufacturing?

Shoot VeeTee, don't cha Know, he built himself a 655 HP mustang out of a 302 with just a pair of pliers and a blowtorch....

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. A. J. Forsyth:
so is being able to own "features", not rent them.

I read that Tesla will turn off features you paid for if you sell the car.

It’s one thing to load features on a car and then sell them on a subscription basis. But, I think it’s really offensive to charge the original owner for that feature, and then try to force the second buyer to pay for it again.

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. A. J. Forsyth:

quote:

Sounds like Tesla is already doing this.

They are indeed. I find it to be total bullshit. Did you know Tesla can and will turn off any features they want, at any time? Features like Supercharging that are critical to you being able to complete a road trip. They can also completely shut down the car if they deem you to have performed service on said vehicle by yourself and not an authorized Tesla station. Right to repair is very important, so is being able to own "features", not rent them.

I would assume all of that is in the fine print that people chose not to read and comprehend, when purchasing a Tesla...?

Where is this 'Right to Repair'? A new Amendment or is it in the Bill of Car Repair...?

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. A. J. Forsyth:
so is being able to own "features", not rent them.

I read that Tesla will turn off features you paid for if you sell the car.

It’s one thing to load features on a car and then sell them on a subscription basis. But, I think it’s really offensive to charge the original owner for that feature, and then try to force the second buyer to pay for it again.

Absolutely. You bought and paid for the top of the line but when you sell it, it is only an entry level value-wise. Wonder who takes the hit for that.....never mind I know. Another reason I won't soon own a Tesla. A BMW motorcycle I would consider but their plan is much the same, milk the consumer.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

It is more efficient to build cars one way.

It is interesting that you would say that. Do you have much experience in automobile manufacturing?

Ha!

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

It is more efficient to build cars one way.

It is interesting that you would say that. Do you have much experience in automobile manufacturing?

Shoot VeeTee, don't cha Know, he built himself a 655 HP mustang out of a 302 with just a pair of pliers and a blowtorch....

My background includes years of software development for manufacturing process control (and teaching same), including assignment as team lead for a project at the largest automobile factory in Spain, implementing a system to build cars to order per customer selection of options.

This system replaced the outmoded “we build cars one way” system.

If the Spanish factory only had enough sense to contact Jimmy instead of embarking on this project, they could have saved the expense of thirty man-years of American engineers on the team, and many times that of Spanish engineers. Just think, hundreds of man-years, and a lot of money wasted on computers and process control hardware, because they didn't think ask Jimmy before plunging willy-nilly into an unnecessary project.

The SaaS and Subscription model trend is not good for the consumer.

quote:

Originally posted by Rev. A. J. Forsyth:

quote:

Sounds like Tesla is already doing this.

They are indeed. I find it to be total bullshit. Did you know Tesla can and will turn off any features they want, at any time? Features like Supercharging that are critical to you being able to complete a road trip. They can also completely shut down the car if they deem you to have performed service on said vehicle by yourself and not an authorized Tesla station. Right to repair is very important, so is being able to own "features", not rent them.

So, where are you getting that info? I own a Tesla. It was very clear about the car coming with a certain amount of "free" supercharging, then it bills my credit card. Similarly, my "enhanced" data plan was free for a year, then I had to pay - again, made quite clear.

The "self-Driving" was an option, which I did not buy - tried it, briefly, almost got into a wreck, and have no desire for it.